Holy Spirit – Blisswood

In His Glowing, Gladsome Light

In a little corner of a neighbouring Blisswood, trees seem to joyfully uplift their branches. Thank you Anysia for sharing this luminous nascent sunset from a recent walk!

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. ~ Psalm 96:12

Psalm 96:12 amplifies a poignant call to worship, from beyond humanity… and extending out to include the natural elements of our world – where even fields and trees express exultation in God’s Presence and anticipation of Christ’s Second Coming!

May we, traversing our many mosaicked paths of life, be like the fields and trees who in essence, remember to praise Him! For when we walk with appreciation in the Glowing, Gladsome Light of His Creation, we understand and recall that God is here. Now. Right beside us!

Anytime our spiritual batteries need recharging, take a walk outside.

Go to the ocean, forest, or park.

Go to your garden!

Just go!

Make the Most of Beautiful Moments!

Nature is indeed a Secret Gospel!

For Thine is the Kingdom…

Rugged Southwest Coast of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118: 23-24

The sun rising over the earth creates the daylight; and the venerable and Holy name of the Lord Jesus, shining continually in the mind, gives birth to countless intellections radiant as the sun. ~ St. Hesychios the Priest; On Watchfulness and Holiness – Philokalia Vol. 1

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? ~ Job 12: 7-9

On a recent trip, when the waves crashed upon stony beaches they sounded like giant sighs… as contented exhalations to their Creator. Spicy pine and fir trees dotting the cliffside above, lifted craggy, creaking boughs skyward to sway a Windy Dance of Praise.

And farther out upon the ocean? The dusky mantle of heaven parted like curtains allowing the sun to blast below a great, gladsome beam of sparkling diamonds. This raw, intense beauty made one’s heart pang with gratitude… that the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (St. John 1:5)

Mewling gulls zipped past, and the morning light flashed as silver on their white feathery breasts. Glossy otters and sleek seals placidly swam in the foreground, deeply intent on their first rounds of the day, with places to go and things to do.

It was beautiful. It was majestic. It was orderly. It was holy.

Animate and inanimate joined in one chorus, praising our Creator.

God is everywhere.

Even the humblest of surroundings become holy places!

Betwixt and Between

Holy Cross surrounded by Hellebore Lenten Rose, Pieris Japonica, Chrysanthemums and Basil

I praise the Godhead, Unity in three Persons: for the Father is Light, the Son is Light, and the Spirit is Light, but the Light remains undivided, shining forth in oneness of Nature, yet in the three rays of the Persons… Let all the trees of the forest dance and sing, as they beheld their fellow-tree, the Cross, today receive veneration: for Christ, as Holy David prophesied, has exalted it on high… Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. I worship Thee, O holy God, as Trinity of Persons in Unity of Essence, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one Power and Kingdom, sovereign over all. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. ~ From the Sunday of the Cross, Matins Service

Be unto me the might, the strength, and the power…the deliverer and foremost defender against my enemies… the shield and protector… my victory and establishment… ever preserving and sheltering me. ~ St. Gregory of Sinai

He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ~St. Matthew 10:38

For in the Cross of Christ Crucified lies both “the power of God and the wisdom of God” for those being saved. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:24

Yesterday was the Third Sunday of Great Lent, and we’re at the half-way point! The Cross is brought out as a consolation for our efforts, and as we venerate the Cross, we remember that our Lord Jesus Christ’s Precious and Life-Giving Cross is Everything.

It stands Mighty. Strong. Redemptive. Invincible. Glorious. Victorious.

The Cross is an Eternal Symbol of Hope and Love.

As we struggle with a myriad of personal crosses, may we steadfastly persevere on our Lenten Journey, with eyes brightly fixed forward towards Golgotha, where we may venerate His Cross, and cast all our burdens down at His Holy Feet. For soon, we too, shall gaze upon the Shining, Holy Resurrection of Christ.

O come all ye faithful!

Our Risen Lord holds out His Arms to embrace the whole world!

Peace of His Presence

Starry Cross in Sky, in dome of 5th century church Galla Placidia; Ravenna, Italy. Photo taken in 2006.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ~ Jesus Christ (John 14:27)

Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be!

Even (and especially) during these troubled times we live in… the Holy Spirit pours Love and Light into our hearts, divinely nourishing us with Joy, and His Peace from Above. Effused with gratitude, let us remember to lift up our noetic eyes, to whence comes our Help, Who made heaven and the earth. May the fragrance of our prayers and praises arise to the heavens as holy incense, and touch the stars.

Happy Saint’s Day Anastasia!

With gratitude on Remembrance Day to all who’ve served and continue to serve – protecting Canada and our freedom. Thank you for your courage service and sacrifice.

Always, Now, & Ever!

Greetings on the (2nd) Day of the Holy Spirit!

Blessed Feast!

Yesterday’s beautiful Trinity Sunday Pentecost Vespers prayers were read aloud with an accompaniment of joyous birdsong, filtering through open church windows. Melodious cheeps and chirps of praise peppered the prayers delighting my heart and soul. Nature is indeed the Secret Gospel!

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

I praise the Godhead, unity in three persons, for the Father is light, the Son is light, and the Spirit is light; but the light remains undivided, shining forth in oneness of nature; yet in the three rays of the persons! ~ Matins, Sunday of the Cross

Bless thou the Lord, and let thine song delight the world. ~ Holy Apostle St. Nathanial (Bartholomew)… who, during the 9th century, appeared and spoke these words to a monk, St. Joseph the Melodist in a monastery altar... The Apostle Nathanial lifted the holy Gospel from the sacred altar, and placed it on the chest of the Saint, then blessed him. This was the beginning of the divine gift he desired.

Today, we also celebrate the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “It is Truly Meet” (“Axion Estin”).

Parish Youth Choir sings It is Truly Meet to Bless Thee O Theotokos:

Congratulations on your Saint’s Day, godson Nathanial! May God grant you many years!

Riding the Thermals

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

Yestereve I watched an eagle ride the thermals over local sea cliffs. Ignoring the inclement weather and taunting gulls, it persevered, soaring higher and higher, searching a broader scope and clearer vision of the tumultuous ocean below. It was hungry. It needed sustenance. It gently reminded me that when spiritually peckish or famished, we need to remember to unfurl our own little soul-wings… and seek to ride the Life-Giving Thermals of the Holy Spirit… Who uplifts us to sweet, incomprehensible heights, which our own little wings are much too fragile to attain, solely by their own power.

The cause of all preservation lieth in the Holy Spirit. If He think it fit to blow upon a man, He taketh him up above the things of the earth, maketh him grow, and settleth him on high. ~ Matins, Sixth Tone

Happy Feast Day! Today is also the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari, Italy in 1087 AD. St. Nicholas’ other feast day is December 19/6.

Christ is Risen!

The Endless End

Daybreak – Kauai 2023

…O Christ the true Light, who enlightens and sanctifies every person who comes into the world: Let the Light of Your countenance shine on us, that in it we may behold the Uncreated Light. ~ Excerpt from Prayer of the Hours; 1st Hour

Numinous Harmony

Foamy Lace – A Beach Microcosm – the Small within the Great!

The Holy Spirit binds together the separated spirits of each one of us. ~ St. Cyril of Alexandria

In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course. ~ St. Boniface

…put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ~ Colossians 3:14

Sometimes the stars sing me to sleep with their silentness. ~ Shared by Ellie

Where ocean meets shore,
foamy constellations ebb –
eclipsing star shells.

Briny bubbles burst
like salty supernovae
in the waxing tide.

To Merge, to Become –
Triadic Axials of
Harmonic Oneness.

Surfing the Chunder

Dawn Patrol on Kauai Beach – 2023
Chunder is a surfing term which means totally unsurfable waves.
Mullering means wiping out.

You don’t need to be polite with God, simply pour out your heart before Him. ~ Elder Sophrony of Essex

Never expect anyone to understand you, only God.
~ St. Gavrilia

I pray like this: “Father in heaven forgive me, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, Holy Spirit enlighten me.”
~ Gerontissa (Eldress) Galaktia

Let us remember
that pray’r is the first resort –
not the last resort!

🏄🏽‍♀️

Bring to Light

Image by 12019 from Pixabay

You are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness… But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:5,8

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: ~ 1 Corinthians 13: 12

Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and, in a word, our being brought into a state of all “fullness of blessing,” both in this world and in the world to come, of all the good gifts that are in store for us, by promise hereof, through faith, beholding the reflection of their grace as though they were already present, we await the full enjoyment. ~ St. Basil the Great

Without first experiencing darkness, how would we recognize light?