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Deep Breath- First Steps
9 years ago today I woke up with a hangover. It wasn’t from drinking too much red wine or beer. It was from having been in hospital for surgery the day before. I’d had half my meniscus (cartilage) removed from my right knee having torn it 8 months earlier. You can read more about my surgery here: https://gymforthesoul.life/prayer-and-reflections/losing-control/ For now I want to say something about the day after the surgery. So back to the hangover. My head was sore, my tummy was sore, my leg was sore. I was sore. My leg was swollen and still had the arrow marked on it from the day before to ensure…
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For the Gift of Humilty
These small holding crosses are at the start of an epic journey. After starting out as trees, they have found their way into my workshop here in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. But from tree to workshop is not the end of their journey. They are about to undertake a journey of transformation and then another journey of great distance as they make their way to Florida in the Unites States of America. As they sit now, they are barely roughed out shapes bearing the saw marks of their recent shaping. They have sharp edges and uneven surfaces. In many ways they are rugged, and that brings…
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What is your mission?
I invite you to reflect on the topic of SERVICE, WORTHINESS and DISCERNMENT. And to do so using the words of St John Henry Newman as our guide. “God has created me to do Him some definite service.” As we go on the journey of life may we know that we are all called to serve others in love. Service of others is not easy. It is, however, a core element of the Christian life to which all of us are called. Let us pray then that we who are called may grow into a ministry of service for all in God’s name and in whatever way God calls us…
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One Minute Litany Prayer
One Minute Litany Prayer For all that I have, gratitude. Hear our cries, Lord. For those who are sick and dying, healing. Hear our cries, Lord. For those undergoing treatment or awaiting results, positive outcomes. Hear our cries, Lord. For those struggling with addictions, fortitude. Hear our cries, Lord. For those who are lonely, friendship. Hear our cries, Lord. For those who find themselves in foreign lands and discriminated against, compassion. Hear our cries, Lord. For those caught up in war, peace. Hear our cries, Lord. For those wrestling with a difficult decision, wisdom. Hear our cries, Lord. For those in…
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For a Rose in the Midst of the Struggle.
There once was a path. It went on for a very long distance indeed. The path was steep. It was bumpy and sharp. Those who climbed the steep path rarely even looked up to see where they were. They never saw the grass or the trees or the animals who lived there in the park. The path and its difficulties stole all of this from the travellers. Truth be told, that path was one that feet struggled to travel on. But there, in the midst of the struggle- not separate from it, but in the midst of it- lay a little, delicate rose. Its petals were thin and wonderfully shaped.…
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Love Is All
I invite you to find a quiet spot and allow yourself a little time to relax, meditate, pray. Begin by sitting still, focusing on your breathing. Don’t try to change your breathing; just notice that you ARE breathing. Acknowledge each breath as a sign of the life you have within you. Now, speak silently or aloud as you breathe. On the in breath: “I am loved” On the out breath: “I am love” Repeat this for a minute or so. As you do, my invitation is for you to know that God loves you. Whatever your relationship with God (or even if you don’t really think…
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God, We Need You Now!
God of healing, God of comfort, God of hugs, We need you now. God of fire, God of truth, God of justice, We need you now. God of the lost, God of the lonely, God of the hurting, We need you now. God of the scandalised, God of the scorned, God of the written off, We need you now. God of the hungry, God of the poor, God of the foreigner, We need you now. God of the persecuted, God of the crucified, God of the bleeding, We need you now. God of the sick, God of the…
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Hello… God? I’m losing my grip
For the times when it feels like we’re not able to cling on to hope during times of struggle… A conversation with God Me: Hello… God? God: Hello, my friend. It is great to hear from you. Tell me, what’s going on for you? Me: Ah, God. I’m struggling. God: I know. Tell me about it. Me: It’s hard to put words on it. God: Speak from your heart. Let your soul cry out. Me: I feel like I’m just about clinging on. Like my fingers are clinging to sharp rocks on a cliff edge. God: And if you lose your grip?…
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Losing Control
The needle stung as it entered the back of my hand. Blood flowed out initially only to return one second later, this time laced with a benzodiazepine- my pre-med had been administered by a very caring nurse called Patricia. I knew her from meeting her on some of her lunchtime walks around the park that lay just beyond the window beside my hospital bed. She smiled at me, “That’s it underway now.” That’s it underway now. It sure felt like something was under way. I was lying in a bed on the orthopaedic ward of Musgrave Hospital, in Belfast, Ireland. The date was Friday 3rd February 2012- the…
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Prayers for hopping off once in a while
One of the highlights of a holiday we took to New York City a few years ago was taking the Big Bus Tour. What a great operation they have going. A fleet of busses take two different routes- one uptown and one downtown- setting off every ten minutes or so. Once you buy a ticket, you can get on any bus on any one of about twenty stops around the city. Or you can ride the entire tour start to finish listening to the your guide tell you some very interesting facts about the Big Apple. It’s commonly known as a ‘hop on, hop off’ service. I’m good at…
