Absolutely Clear

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Today I am flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado. The skies are clear from one high altitude (4,300 ish feet in SLC) to even higher (5,500 ish feet in Denver, the “Mile High City”). I will be working with a group of eight United Church of Christ ministers and lay people to imagine the possibility of a kind of academy to support ministers at more deeper layers as they support congregations, “in times like these.” I love the call to ministry and to deepening ministry.

I don’t recall who wrote this poem below, but I loved finding it in a file folder I keep called, “A Few of My Favorite Things.” Here’s to clarity.

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Absolutely Clear

Don’t surrender your loneliness
So quickly.
Let it cut more deep.

Let it ferment and season you
As few human
Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight
Has made my eyes so soft,
My voice,
So tender,

My need of God
Absolutely
Clear.

One Reply to “Absolutely Clear”

  1. Hafiz

    Barbara and Laurence sang this to me once in the dark in a bunker at a fort in Port Townsend. One of my favorite lifetime memories ever.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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