“Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
PLEASE SUPPORT MS. NYE’S WONDERFUL WORK
Maurice Frydman Poem (Title Unknown)
I am at the end of the tether
and can’t break the cord
All my going ahead
is a deceitful dream,
All my thinking not true,
all my feeling not pure,
Love (III) - by George Herbert
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything.
The Adventurer by Anthony de Mello
The story goes that in a small village lived an adventurer who grew restless within its confines and longed to explore the wider world. He eventually embarked on a long journey, venturing into uncharted territories and experiencing things no one in the village ever had. Years passed, and the villagers, assuming he was dead, were surprised when he eventually returned.
“The Mystic, the Evangelical and the Fundamentalist” - Author Unknown
There is an old anecdote in which a mystic, an evangelical pastor and a fundamentalist preacher die on the same day and awake to find themselves by the pearly gates. Upon reaching the gates they are promptly greeted by Peter, who informs them that before entering heaven they must be interviewed by Jesus concerning the state of their doctrine. The first to be called forward…
SOURCE: ‘How (Not) To Speak of God by Peter Rollins (Paraclete Press, 2006), page 21
"Pathways" by Mark Nepo
I don’t know why I was born
with this belief in something
deeper and larger than we can
see.
But it’s always called.
Even as a boy,…
PLEASE SUPPORT MR. NEPO’S FINE WORK
"When the Shoe Fits" by Chuang Tzu
Chu’i the draftsman
could draw more perfect circles freehand
than with a compass.
His fingers brought forth
spontaneous forms from nowhere.
The Orthodox Heretic by Peter Rollins
“Many centuries ago an independent island was attacked by the dictator of a nearby nation, a nation with vast resources and a mighty army. Upon landing on the island, this army moved with little resistance toward the capital city. With less than a day to decide what action to take, the leaders of the island desperately discussed what could be done in the face of the encroaching army. They were hugely outnumbered, out-resourced, and out-skilled, so defeat seemed inevitable.
"More Is Not Enough - The Stone Cutter " by Benjamin Hoff
There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life. One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant