One must have a mind of winter To regard the frost and the boughs Of the pine-trees crusted with snow; And have been cold a long time To behold the junipers shagged with ice, The spruces rough in the distant glitter Of the January sun; and not to think Of any misery in the soundContinue reading “#adventapertures2025: Blue Christmas”
Tag Archives: waiting
#adventapertures2025: day 21
Silence has its own notation: dark Jottings of duration, but not pitch, A long black box, or little feathered hitch Like a new Greek letter or diacritical mark Silence is a function of Time, the lark In flight but not in song. A nothing which Keeps secrets or confesses. Pregnant, rich, Or awkward, cold, theContinue reading “#adventapertures2025: day 21”
#adventapertures2025: day 9
I have begun, when I’m weary and can’t decide an answer to a bewildering question to ask my dead friends for their opinion and the answer is often immediate and clear. Should I take the job? Move to the city? Should I try to conceive a child in my middle age? They stand in unisonContinue reading “#adventapertures2025: day 9”
#adventapertures2025: day 7
“Advent is a story of Old Testament prophecies. It is a story of cosmic fulfillment. The dream of a world repaired in the holy darkness of Advent. A whisper is heard, words are formed.” Rev Lisha Epperson Packing to go on holiday always induces fear in me as well as excitement. It is the fearContinue reading “#adventapertures2025: day 7”
I am limited
Last week it was my great honour to have another ‘monk in the world’ post published on the Abbey of the Arts Blog. Here is that post: A few months ago I wrote these words in response to a series of photographs (some of which are pictured here) I made in collaboration with the KinshipContinue reading “I am limited”
Sunday 4: for waiting
Do this work until you feel the delight of it. In the trying is the desire. The first time you practice contemplation, you’ll only experience a darkness, like a cloud of unknowing. You won’t know what this is. You’ll only know that in your will you feel a simple reaching out to God. You mustContinue reading “Sunday 4: for waiting”
day 20: for nourishment
In winter, we are prone to regard our trees as cold, bare, and dreary; and we bid them wait until they are again clothed in verdure before we may accord to them comradeship. However, it is during this winter resting time that the tree stands revealed to the uttermost, ready to give its most intimateContinue reading “day 20: for nourishment”
heart of stone
Once again it is my honour to contribute a reflection to the ‘monk in the world’ blog of the Abbey of the Arts. This piece was first published on May 15, 2024 (although it was written in May 2023). all words and images by Kate Kennington Steer I arrived at February 2023 in a post-viralContinue reading “heart of stone”
gospel 6: Be on the watch for Me.
Aware of who I AM? Awake to where I AM? Look. I AM the ColourSwirler. I AM the LightBearer. I AM the StarGuider. I AM the PrayerReceiver. I AM the ViewFinder. I AM the HealthBringer. I AM the WisdomKeeper. Look. I AM in the eyes of the poor. Look. I AM reflected in theContinue reading “gospel 6: Be on the watch for Me.”
day 25
I was afraid that with their blocks of concrete the skyscrapers might wound the dawn. But you ought to see how sensitive they are to the morning light, how they disarm and lose their cutting edge and steely soul! They too are caught in the irresistible spell of the holy hour when the whole naturalContinue reading “day 25”
image into ikon 