A Considerable Speck

It’s almost Thanksgiving –  less than a week to go before the celebration that is probably bigger than Christmas here in the US. We’ll be celebrating it in church this Sunday. There is a lot to be said for taking the time to stop for a moment and to give thanks to God for all the people, stories and journeys we’ve experiences and been a part of during the year that has just past. We really don’t do enough of that, do we? Giving thanks is a spiritual discipline – it is something we could be doing every minute of every day but very rarely do. So, at one level, this celebration of Thanksgiving is much more than all the food and the family gatherings. It is a reminder to us to take the time to be thankful for this life and for all the things that make this life, our life, what it is.

I am a big fan of Michael Leunig. He is a cartoonist, philosopher, poet and artist. Leunig has been declared an Australian Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia.  I love this response he gives to the question, “…do you think God is listening?”:

“I don’t think of God as a he or a listener or a she. I just think it’s a poem. It’s some…it’s a feeling. It’s a sense of God. I just love the word. I love using it. It sings, you know? It’s sweet. It’s a sweet word. I’m at ease with it. My ancestors used it. Some wonderful musicians and composers and poets used it. They must have been talking about something. I feel entitled to this word. I inherited it, you know. It gives me a bit of peace to use it but I don’t go round asking for things from God, except ‘God help me’.” (from an interview with Andrew Denton on ABC TV).

Anyway, the purpose for mentioning Leunig because one of the prayers that I particularly in this season of fall and as we approach thanksgiving is one that is written by him.

Autumn

Autumn.
We give thanks, our God,
for the harvest of the heart’s work;
seeds of faith planted with faith;
love nurtured by love;
courage strengthened by courage.

We give thanks for the fruits
of the struggling soul,
the bitter and the sweet;

For that which has grown in adversity
and for that which has flourished
in warmth and grace;

For the radiance of the spirit in autumn
and for that which must now fade and die.

We are blessed and give thanks. Amen.

from  The Prayer Tree by Michael Leunig.

Books mentioned in this post:

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It has been more than 8 months since my last post. It’s amazing how time and life can get  away from you.

In an effort to get back into the swing of regular blogging, as the season of Advent approaches, I will be posting a  short reflection (more or less daily) right through the season, beginning on the first Sunday in Advent. Until that time, you will see the odd, random post about a variety of things.

But why rush into Advent? It’s still fall here in New England and nothing (and I mean, nothing!) beats the colours and the scenery of fall in this part of the world. You have to see it to believe it. A photograph just doesn’t capture the awesome beauty of it…but there’s no harm trying!

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Apologies for the lack of posts over the last few weeks. Life has just been too busy. However, I just had to post this. This is my current obsession. Conspirare is a professional choir  based in Austin, Texas conducted by Craig Hella Johnson. I have never heard a choir that is this tight! These are extracts from the PBS special featuring Conspirare. I have also posted a brief interview with the director. The piece in the second clip is one of my favourites!

A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert from KLRU / Conspirare on Vimeo.

“Trptych” by Conspirare from KLRU / Conspirare on Vimeo. 

Craig Hella Johnson on the Conspirare Singers from KLRU / Conspirare on Vimeo.

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