[Dialogue] [Oe List ...] A poem for you all

[Nancy Trask]

Thank you Jim, and thank you Wanda.  I needed, & am grateful, for the
inspiring words you shared.
Happy Holidays to you and all,
Nancy Trask

“If you love it enough, anything will talk with you”
~George Washington Carver


On Tue, Dec 24, 2024 at 2:04 PM Holcombe Wanda via Dialogue <
dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:

> Also I highly recommend you follow Jim Rigby on Facebook who is one of the
> most prophetic people in the Austin area that I know. His membership is
> full, but you can still follow him. I will post one of his recent
> sharings….Wanda
>
> THE FIRST DUTY OF LOVE
> by Jim Rigby
>
> It was theologian Paul Tillich who said, “The first duty of love is to
> listen.” The words are beautiful from a counseling viewpoint, but they can
> be very disturbing to those whose religion is based on belief.
>
> Listening can be terrifying to those who have learned religion as a parrot
> song to be recited word for word. Awareness is indeed heretical if one has
> been taught religion as a trance. When we believe that orthodoxy is the
> only way to avoid hell we tend not to ask many questions.
>
> We must never forget that religion is a means to deeper living and not an
> end in itself. Religion that has become an end in itself can only betray us
> in our pursuit of deeper living and wider loving.
>
> When the unity of our religious group has been established by mindlessly
> saying the same words at the same time, it can feel divisive to stop
> talking and actually listen to each other. What kind of “unity” comes from
> a room full of people reciting holy words with unshared hearts?
>
> We cannot love those we have not listened to. To hear another person, we
> must listen to their heart song. I do not think it is possible to hear
> another’s heart song if religion has muffled our own eyes and ears. To seek
> love we must free our own hearts from the shackles of dogma and moralism.
>
> Tillich seems right in saying the first duty of love is not to recite a
> creed without deviation nor to practice an ancient ritual without
> deviation. If love is our goal then our first duty to each other is to
> listen.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 24, 2024, at 1:55 PM, Holcombe Wanda <wandah70 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks Jim for sharing and Happy Holidays to ALL🌎🌍🌏🌠
>
> I share a poem written by Mary Brown who is married to Jim Brown. They
> live down the hall from me where I live in a 55+ community living in Austin
> Metroplex. They participated in RS1 Many years ago and one of our
> colleagues officiated at their wedding.  It’s great to have them living in
> the same community and participating in a reconciling congregation, In
> Georgetown, Texas.
> In Peace with Justice & Hope,
> Wanda & Marcus the Cat 🐈
> Amberlin 55+ Community
> 5101 North Mays St Apt 6405
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/5101+North+Mays+St+Apt+6405+Georgetown+TX+78626?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Georgetown TX 78626
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/5101+North+Mays+St+Apt+6405+Georgetown+TX+78626?entry=gmail&source=g>
> [image: image3.jpeg][image: image4.jpeg]
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 24, 2024, at 11:06 AM, James Wiegel via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> wrote:
>
> With best wishes
>
> Da Capo
>
> By Jane Hirshfield
>
> Take the used-up heart like a pebble
> and throw it far out.
>
> Soon there is nothing left.
> Soon the last ripple exhausts itself
> in the weeds.
>
> Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery.
> Glaze them in oil before adding
> the lentils, water, and herbs.
>
> Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt.
> Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat.
>
> You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted.
> Begin again the story of your life.
>
> Da Capo
>
> By Jane Hirshfield
>
> Take the used-up heart like a pebble
> and throw it far out.
>
> Soon there is nothing left.
> Soon the last ripple exhausts itself
> in the weeds.
>
> Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery.
> Glaze them in oil before adding
> the lentils, water, and herbs.
>
> Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt.
> Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat.
>
> You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted.
> Begin again the story of your life.
>
>
> Jim Wiegel
>
> “…the long work
> of turning their lives
> into a celebration
> is not easy. Come and let us talk“.
>
> The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver
> _______________________________________________
> OE mailing list
> OE at lists.wedgeblade.net
> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
>
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>
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