Nibicula Est, Transibit

Detail of our Saviour’s Feet from mosaic in Chora

Come and lay
all heartache care and worry
at His Feet
!

(And LEAVE them there!)

Greetings on the Eve of Holy Theophany!

A friend recently shared an ancient and amazing Latin quote attributed to St. Athanasius the Great. Nibicula est, transibit which translates to It is a small cloud; it will pass”

Trials and tribulations are just for now, Nibicula Est, Transibit – are exactly like those fleeting clouds on the horizon!

Christ is our Siloam. He is our Bright Sun of Righteousness in a cloudless sky.

Come! Let us kiss His Precious Feet – those very same Feet which once trod Eden’s dusky paths, and are still fragrant with the Petals of Paradise!

When a problem is acute…tell it to the Angels so they may place it at the Lord’s Feet, and pray the Lord for an Angel of Peace to calm your soul. How beautiful is the Mystery of Tomorrow! ~St. Gavrilia

Wishing you a Blessed Theophany!

With love in Christ.

This is Just For Now

Mosaicked Cross Detail at Archpriest John’s Grave ~ Memory Eternal!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ~ St. Matthew 11:28-29

The seasons are different. You can’t be unaffected. In the summer you can be lulled into thinking that there is nothing but sunny days from now on. But now even the weather tells us we should get down to work… We have pain and struggles. We have needs. And, sometimes miraculously, these are answered. But sometimes they are not. God wants something more for us than the physical, He wants us to be first of all, spiritually well. God knows each of us. He knows us better than ourselves. See how the Church brings all these things (faith, good works, glorification) to our remembering so we can see what’s come before, where we are and what we have to keep. ~ Archpriest John Adams

As Christians, we take up our cross; and not a cross of our own choosing, but the cross which God assigns specifically for us, to help us become spiritually well.

When distracted by life, I’m inevitably surprised to find myself stumbling beneath a particularly burdensome, personal cross… wondering why am I so bruised up? How did this happen? Why do things suddenly seem harder? Well – Duh me (says I, smacking my forehead)!!- Because I’m trying to carry my cross – all by myself!

Through faithful perseverance, prayer, and asking/allowing God help us, we are rewarded with Christ’s fragrant Petals of Healing Love. Let us, in our brokeness, exalt in carrying the Life-giving Cross of Jesus upon our hearts and minds… strengthened, joyful, peaceful, rested… calling to remembrance His Shining, Glorious Resurrection.

Troubles? Afflictions?

This is just for now. ~ Archpriest John

Greeting you with a Cornucopia of Thankful Thoughts on this Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend! Thank you for visiting Blisswood.


Letting Go

There’s a golden glow
in letting go, and letting God
assuage our sorrow.
For it’s not life’s pain
that saps or drains our shattered souls
today, tomorrow…
But how we avoid
embracing the fullness of pain
as a healing balm.
May we emulate
the centurion’s faith of yore,
in Capernaum.
And, into God’s Hands
where time touches eternity,
release our petals.


Bouquets of Our Labour

Late blooming Michaelmas Daisies evoke joy in a past January Garden!

Flowers are indeed the Echoes of Eden, and there are over 250 species of the perennial Michaelmas Daisies which belong to the Aster family. They are a gardener’s delight!

Like the protecting miracles of Archangel Michael whom this flower is named after, it blooms brightly in the early fall upon Archangel Michael’s feast days… as if to battle the coming winter’s gloom.

In ancient Scotland, an old verse about Michaelmas Daisies says: Michaelmas Daisies, among the dede weed, bloom for St. Michael’s valorous deeds!

…each of us… resembles a flower, be it modest or lush, that makes a composition or adds unique fragrance. Altogether, we create a bouquet of our labours, talents, and most importantly, love of God and people – in short, the Church of Christ. ~ Marina Schmeleva

Flowers speak to us of the Love of God. ~ St. Porphyrios

Cultivate
those Petals of Paradise
in our hearts.

Let us bring
Bouquets of Labours to our
Saviour’s Feet.

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