Inspiration – Blisswood

Golden Michtam

Image by Stadnik from Pixabay

This beautiful poem is shared by Robyn – a friend of the parish, written in memory of her recently passed father, Robert Young.

Robyn’s poem of love and inspiration is derived from the golden strength and resilience observed in one of her favourite flowers, and Psalm 16 a Michtam, (pronounced mick-ham)… a very great prayer by the Holy Righteous and Prophet King David.

The 150+ ancient Psalms and Psalter continue to shine forth a clear and ofttimes mysterious Light upon the services and personal prayer.

May we, too, be as Sunflowers …. lifting our heavy heads to follow the direction of Sonshine, aligning our own wills with God’s, and basking our little petals in the golden warmth of His Resplendent Light.

Let us be as sunflowers – tall and sturdy we stand.
Always facing the warmth of our Sun – our shadows behind us.
Basking in Your Light – You bring glory to our petals.
Spreading our seeds of happiness – to sow and take deep root in good soil.
So golden, so brightly we shine – let us be as sunflowers.
~ by Robyn D. Young

May God grant rest to Robert’s soul, and give comfort and strength to his family – Robyn, Pearl and Zachary.

With love in Christ.

Christ is Our Song

Fragrant Plumeria ~ Kauai 2023

…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. ~ Ephesians 5:19

…A sacred song is not unlike a holy Icon; except that the holy Icon is seen and the sacred song is heard, the functions are the same. This painting of words and sounds has as its purpose the bringing of the community into the presence and the awareness of sacred mystery. Bringing us together is no small part of sacred music’s function. Just as receiving Holy Communion together is a sacred sign that all who partake become one body in Christ, so singing must be the expression of this same unity of hearts and minds, drawing us harmoniously together into one voice. For ultimately, it is Christ Who is our Song. ~ These Truths We Hold – The Holy Orthodox Church: Her Life and Teachings, St. Tikhon’s Monastery

Making a joyful noise unto the Lord is a continual delight, flavouring the day and sweetening the soul.

There’s Big Bonus points too… singing mostly keeps us out of treble! Um, er, I mean trouble!

Both Now and Ever

The musical rhythm of dawn’s sighing waves seem to glorify God. ~ Kauai 2016

Greetings on the Eve of All Saints of the British Isles (the 4th Sunday after the Great Feast of Pentecost).

The Holy Spirit has always been, is now and ever shall be, having neither beginning nor end, but one with the Father and the Son: life and life giving; goodness itself and source of goodness, through Whom the Father is made known and the Son is glorified, and is known by all: one power, one unity, one worship, of the Holy Trinity. ~ Pentecost Vespers

The Holy Trinity’s Glory and Majesty spans all of time.

Each Divine Liturgy begins with the fervent declaration of Eternity ~ Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

When we intone the amazing Liturgical response: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both Now and Ever and Unto the Ages of Ages. Amen – we literally step outside of temporal time and participate together in the timeless worship of our Heavenly, Eternal God!

While some modern English translations over-simplify the traditional refrain of both now and ever and unto the ages of ages, amen, into a blander version of forever and ever, amen – it seems to me, that the keeping of the more juicy ancient Orthodox response, intentionally preserves and extends our praise beyond the constraints of the limited human concept of time.

May we rejoice together – in one heart and mind declaring Both Now and Ever… continuously glorifying God.

NOW is always our most precious time.

All ye Saints of the British Isles pray to God for us!

As to Creation’s Planter…

A beautiful Taiga Clematis rambles along our patio fence… Happy to bloom where planted!

Happy All Saints’ Day! Blessed Feast!

Since the 4th century, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the ancient feast of All Saints’ Day is celebrated and continues to be celebrated on the first Sunday after the Great Feast of Pentecost.

On All Saints’ Day we commemorate saints from every where and from every time. We honour both the known saints and the unknown saints, for these shining clouds of witnesses have lived to the fruition of Holiness. As all are alive in Christ, the saints are our friends and alive in Heaven. They are venerated, but not worshipped.

During the 8th century in the Western Church, Sunday of All Saints was transferred to the first Sunday in November, and then again in the 9th century to November 1st. This was to encourage a joyful Christian Fruits of the Holy Spirit celebration… rather than the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain – celebrated in trepidation with the pagan Feast of the Pumpkin.

As to Creation’s Planter all the world doth offer unto Thee- as nature’s first fruits the God-bearing Martyrs O Lord, for they bore witness unto Thee. Thus preserve Thou Thy Church by their entreaties, O Saviour, in the profoundest peace, through the pure Theotokos, O Thou Who art greatly merciful.
~ Kontakion of All Saints, Tone 8

In God and in His Church there is no division between the living and the departed, but all are one in the love of the Father. Whether we are alive or whether we are dead, as members of the Church we still belong to the same family, and still have a duty to bear one another’s burdens. Therefore just as Orthodox Christians here on earth pray for one another and ask for one another’s prayers, so they pray for the faithful departed and ask the faithful departed to pray for them. Death cannot sever the bond of mutual love which links the members of the Church together. ~ Metropolitan Kallistos Ware

All the Saints are like fragrant flowers in God’s Heavenly Garden.

As to Creation’s Planter… May we bloom where planted, regardless of debris from life’s storms… and blossom forth unto Him a fruition of Spiritual Fragrance!

Happy Eve of the Holy Apostles Sts. Peter & Paul Fast!

Humility of Heart

Greetings on the Afterfeast of The Ascension!

Christ Has Ascended! In Glory… From Earth to Heaven!

The heart gives life to the body, and humility gives life to the soul. ~ Elder Porphyrios

All my happiness and unhappiness are contained in the thoughts and inclinations of my heart. ~ St. John of Kronstadt

If you are a Christian, then you do not believe that your life is an accident, a meaningless, purposeless, random peak of a cosmic probability wave. You know that your purpose is to become the Body of Christ. You know that your life is a sacrament, not unlike the Eucharist. Grains of wheat grow from the earth, shaped and fashioned through much labour to be offered to God and to become His Body. Likewise a human life: taken from the earth, shaped and fashioned through much labour to become an offering to God and His Body. And just as there are differences between different liturgical traditions, different people found different ways to live their lives as a sacred offering to God. Perhaps it is less important whether you sing psalms in the shower or not, recite the Lord’s Prayer three times a day or five – what is important is that you live your life as a sacrament, as an icon, and not as a caricature. ~ Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov

Admiring the bleeding hearts in our garden patio, and accompanied with joyful birdsong, an old and precious Childhood “Thank You” Prayer came to mind… attributed to Edith Rutter-Leatham from the late 1800’s. May God rest her soul! So many toddlers (myself included) have been inspired to learn how to pray simply, and with gratitude.

Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything.
Amen.

Thank YOU for visiting Blisswood!

Soon, we arrive at the wondrous Great Feast of Holy Pentecost!

With love in Christ.

In Pure Simplicity

Garden Calla Lily, shared by Irena

Christ is Risen!

Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour, the Angels in Heaven sing. Enable us on earth, to glorify Thee in purity of heart. ~ Paschal Stichera

When going to the Holy Mysteries, go with simplicity of heart, and with the proper reverence toward this, in full faith that you will receive the Lord within yourself. ~ St. Theophan the Recluse

The core of our faith is actually extremely simple‚ that there is a God that created us and He became like us so we can become like Him. In order to do that He died‚ resurrected and ascended to heavens‚ taking up our human nature upon the heavenly throne. All we have to do is follow Him‚ take up our crosses and get going. ~ Fr. Vasile Tudora

May we, with verdant Simplicity of Heart, brightly bloom as pure lilies in God’s Eternal Garden of Pascha, and rejoice in His Divine Beauty of of Simplicity.

Truly He is Risen!

Learning How to Fly

Fledgling Starling Rests Briefly Before its Next Take Off ~ Shared by M.

Christ is Risen!

It’s truly amazing how much God loves us all… including those precious little fledgling birds “coming in hot” and touching down safely in daisy dotted fields!

It’s hard work learning how to fly! I KNOW, because I tried really hard when I was around three or four years old… Vaulting off picnic tables and launching myself out from low tree branches.

My hair (styled in required pig-tails) although catching the wind, never helped with upward thrust. It was a rude awakening that my flapping arms were simply too slow, and just couldn’t cut a decent lift off.

Never thwarted for long, I logically hatched a brand new plan on my high-tech Etch-a-Sketch (taking in all previous failings and fallings into account), and a brand new, final experiment became that day’s Swan Song.

Let’s just say it could have ended more disastrously, with my leaping high off the top bunk bed (bumping my head on the ceiling) all while holding a balloon. Gravity prevailed, and I wouldn’t blame my long-suffering Guardian Angel if he may have pondered an immediate transfer that day, but has stolidly stuck with me… And still protects me! (Thank you Holy Guardian Angel!)

Mom, ever-commiserating, consoled me. First, by telling me to stop bleeding all over her newly washed kitchen floor, and second, distractingly bandaging my bruises, along with sharing the amazing concept – there were other “ways” we can soar aloft… in our minds and hearts! That it’s our souls that have invisible wings! God made us all special, in our own ways.

Today, I’m sitting placidly beside an open window and joyfully hearing the many kinds of birds in my yard singing sweet songs of praise, who are Blessing the Name of the Lord, from henceforth and forever more!

Meanwhile, I’m still learning how to fly in the way God wants me to. It’s a life-long process. Happily, there are inklings of updraft, and for that I’m grateful.

God is Good!

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father… Fear ye not, therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows. ~ St. Matthew 10:29,31

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ~ St. Luke 12:6,7

Truly He is Risen!

Inexpressible Joy!

Fragrant Wisteria Cascades Over Sunny Pergola

Christ is Risen!

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun; ~ Ecclesiastes 11:7

Now in the springtime, when nature is wearing its most beautiful apparel, one feels inexpressible joy when this natural beauty is accompanied by a sublime spiritual state. Truly, our holy God has made all things in wisdom! ~ Elder Ephraim

Orthodoxy is the sunlight that falls upon the earth. It shines for all who want to be warmed by its rays. ~ Archpriest Victor Potapov.

Nature has donned its beautiful springtime apparel, and everything’s vibrantly alive with the Breath of the Holy Spirit. Let us exalt and rejoice in the golden glow of Sonshine reflecting the spiritual and Divine Light of His Glorious Resurrection!

Truly He is Risen!

A Deep Pull From the Divine Well

Morning Sunbeams Shine on Vibrant Shamrocks Encompassing Wooden Garden Icon of Our Lord

Christ is Risen!

Yesterday we celebrated the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman at the Well, and I’d love to re-share an excerpt from a wonderful (past) homily by Archpriest John:

While we think mostly on an earthly plane, in the Gospels – Christ speaks on the true spiritual plane… drawing us to the realization of Who Life is. Like the Samaritan Woman at the Well (Gospel of St. John, Chapter 4), when we desire to obtain the promise of Living Water, realizing who we are, we have to choose and accept the belief in Christ. These things are necessary for everyone. If we don’t desire something, why would we make any effort for it? If we don’t want to look honestly at ourselves, what would we ever want to change? If we never realize Who Christ is, why would we ever seek Him? We may speak to God about what we want, what we think we need, and wonder why we don’t have it right now. We speak carnally, but He answers us spiritually. He wants to give us something far greater. We want water from a well where we’ll thirst again. But He wants for us to have eternal life. ~ Archpriest John Adams ☦️

Let us take a deep pull, and drink deeply from the Divine Well of Living Water… Let us fill Our Hearts to the brim with Him, in Spirit and Truth!

Truly He is Risen!

There IS a Light!

Pascha Lily Reflecting CandleLight

Christ is Risen!

I’ve found, that even in the darkest of circumstances, there is a Light.

Sometimes, it’s only a pinprick, or a tiny glimmer of Light, but TRUST that Light! Gird yourself with this armour of Light… for it is an immeasurable garment of Grace.

No matter what it takes, the Light WILL help you find a way back, or a way through.

For GOD is that Light.

Through the prayers of our Most Holy Theotokos and of all the Saints, may we allow the Sweet Light and Strength of Love and Hope in Christ, Illumine us all.

Truly He is Risen!