HAUNTED BY THE HOLY GHOST

MOTHERLESS CHILD-".... I cry songs, woes of separation"

 

 

There is a line from the poem "SEPARATIONS" by Hafiz of Shiraz that says :

"With nightingales of dawn, I cry songs,woes of separation"

 

_{^{Carolyn Striho doesn't sing this song, she cries it; from the heart of a child longing for the comfort of the arms that held her long ago, and believed would always keep her safe, and keep her from getting lost...but now something has robbed her of that comfort...the voice of a lost child trying to find her way back...}}

^{Click on down, it is the last song: But only listen only if you want your heart broken;}

 

 

Maybe love is waiting at the end of every room

When I was little I'd stare at her picture

And talk to the mother of God

I swear sometimes I'd see her lips move

Like she was trying to say something to me

Something as simple as boys and girls

Gets tossed all around and then lost in the world

Something as hard as a prayer on your back

Can wait a long time for an answer...

I live too many miles from the ocean

And I'm getting older and odd

I get up every morning with a black cup of coffee

And I talk to the mother of God

Something as simple as boys and girls

Gets tossed all around and then lost in the world

Something as hard as a prayer on your back

Can wait a long time for an answer...

Maybe ... it's alright.

Maybe we won't fight anymore.

Maybe love is waiting at the end of every room.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Lyrics: The Mother of God by Patti Griffin.

Image:Original Artwork/mixed media by Jill Johnson

Warning: Shameless Plug-NORTHERN SKIES......Drake's New CD Just Realeased

Northern Skies

The Newest CD released by Drake, the Band
(which includes my favorite Violinist
and one of my favorite daughters (Bea)

Yes, I have given up all hope of hearing strains of Bach, Mahler or Shostakovitch any time soon, unless she puts them into a riff/improvisation as part of one of Drake's songs. 
Not likely.

There is a "rumor" that one of the more "complicated improvise solos is based the theme song from "Sesame Street".
BTW,  she never even watched Sesame Street, or any of those "pseudo-educational/parental guilt soothing" TV shows; and most "kids" shows she gave up on after 5 minutes, miffed that most were an insult to ANYONE'S intelligence.

So how she picked up the Theme Song from Sesame Street is mystifying, especially in the light of a  late night phone call I received asking me if I had ever heard of  "SCOOBY-DOO".
She was sure her "band mates" were just making things up to pile on more "HOME SCHOOL" points...
Yes, Virginia(Bea, or whatever name you are going by), there really is a Scooby-Doo


ANYWAY....The CD is great, see the LEFT SIDE BAR to listen or download some sample tracks, watch a clip of a performance, and maybe order yourself a copy of Northern Skies (or their previous CD, "These And Other Things").

And not the warning on MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, which has a quick comment questioning the Bible Exegetical skills of someone named "George"....

...someone who's hasn't been seen or hear from since yesterday, Jan 20 around Noon.

Bea, what do you know, when did you know it, and how involved are you in with his disappearance????????

Sounds like a job for "you know who...."

or just watch this instead
(Bea's solo on the CD sample track is much more "WILD"-it was still new when this was done)

Drake - Mission Accomplished

...I still stand outside their room, and listen to their breathing....

I only can do Suzuki Violin through Book 2; dad read the Tolkien  but I read L'Engle and MacDonald; I also taught them all the words to Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and HMS Pinafore.  Now they are too old for such foolishness,  but I still stand outside their room and listen to their breathing each time they come safely home....

                                                                           

Poem by: Joyce Sutphen

MORE FROM THE GLEN

REBECCA, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU: (click listen to this track)
No words could do it justice, you have to listen to it.

 

"Mary's Waltz".
It's like no Chistmas Carol I have ever listened to.

For Bea and Hero

SCHISM

I know the pieces fit cuz I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smoldering. Fundamental differing.
Pure intention juxtaposed will set two lovers souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes testing our communication
The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
We cannot see to reach an end crippling our communication.

I know the pieces fit cuz I watched them tumble down
No fault, none to blame it doesn't mean I don't desire to
Point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over.
To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication

The poetry that comes from the squaring off between,
And the circling is worth it.
Finding beauty in the dissonance.

There was a time that the pieces fit, but I watched them fall away.
Mildewed and smoldering, strangled by our coveting
I've done the math enough to know the dangers of our second guessing
Doomed to crumble unless we grow, and strengthen our communication.

Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any
Sense of compassion
Between supposed lovers/brothers

FROM THE ALBUM LATERALUS by TOOL

Written by KEENAN, MAYNARD JAMES/JONES, ADAM/CAREY, DANIEL
ALBUM:Lateralus

photo:Waiting for the apocalypse
by materija folle

Love is never far from danger; Fortunatly someone's watching to protect you from your own good intentions

People tell me I am creative.  Maybe. Maybe not.

When it comes to mistakes, sin, I have a very limited, boring,and predictable repertoire;
And prolific; Fortunately the list of excuses and is short, not to mention worthless in the on anyone that still might try to pass them off.
I never realized how I overused "Simul justus et peccator".  Everyone's better off since I had to cross that one off the list; especially those who saw in me more "Simul" peccator et peccator" than anything.(apologies to any Latin grammarians).

But I know two people who are very creative, and outdo me in the Faith and humility department even on a bad day.

See, "Little Miss" can be wrong...and will try that "Livin on a prayer thing"  I'm Glad someone's in touch with God's sense of humor.(btw Opra eez enkripted, but will give paswrd for a chee.....never mind)

Well it's not Spin Doctor or Twisted Sister(shock value only works once..twice, at most...then I need something useful), plus I'll probably lose half the cool points I earned, but here are a few of my program notes, and some of the soundtracks I am using trying to change the script of my life:

"But the man who has true faith and true humility demands nothing from God or anyone else. Of all the things he could request, he begs for only one thing—not life, not strength, not resolve or willpower, but mercy. God, be merciful to me, the sinner. That is his only prayer—that his Creator have mercy on him; that his Savior pity him; and that the Spirit breathe into him once more the faintest whisper of God’s undying compassion. And in return, this man of faith and humility offers nothing except his entire being—all that he is and all that he has--to God for the good of all men. Such an offer he makes, not to buy God’s affection, but knowing that all he has is not his own, but the Lord’s—which he has only tainted or ruined or abused or wasted by his prodigal living. And so “mercy” is his only prayer. And “have mercy” is his gasping breath."

From:True Faith & True Humility
from Conversi ad Dominum by fr john w fenton

Look inside for the elusive goldmine
Broken glass and a little cheap wine
is all that I can find.
And bundles of contradictions,
my heart full of loose connections,
hands across my eyes.
I cannot disguise I'm everyman's daughter.

who do you think that I am?
It don't matter long as we can understand.
I am hurting someone.
I am hurting someone just like, just like you.

Insulting the wounds of others,
my sisters, my brothers,
my vision's way too good.
I carry the inward aching.
Like you, I too am naked.
I don't look that good,
but this is flesh and blood. I'm everyman's daughter.

Look at all the blood we've spilt.
I can't deal with all this fundamental guilt.
I am hurting someone.
I am hurting someone just like, just like you.

I am. I am. I am everyman's daughter.

Everyman's Daughterst
Over the Rhine
recording: Good Dog Bad Dog

photo:artofgold

 

icon

Today is the first day of the rest
Of our lives
Tomorrow is too late to pretend
Everything's all right
I'm not getting any younger as long
As you don't get any older
I'm not going to state that yesterday never was

Bloodshot deadbeat and a lack of sleep
Making your mascara bleed
Tears down your face
Leaving traces of my mistakes

(When I say)
If I promise to go to church on Sunday
Will you go with me on Friday night?
If you live with me, I'll die for you
And this compromise

I hereby solemnly swear to tell
The whole truth
And nothing but the truth is what
I'll ever hear from you now;
"Trust" is a dirty word that comes
Only from such a liar
But "respect" is something I will earn..
If you have faith

"Church On Sunday" by Greenday

photo Foolish Things by 6261'

For Hero and Bea or Puck and Hermia, or Helena, or Bottom, or whoever the heck you are this week, and for us all, really: EVERYTHING MATTERS, IF ANYTHING MATTERS AT ALL

We cannot say,
“Only read the Scripture, do not look at me as an icon.”
Nobody gets that kind of free ride as a Christian.
You’re an icon whether you like it or not.
And there will be other images as well - either well done reflecting heaven itself - or poorly reflecting everything other than heaven.
But there will be icons.
God give us grace to rightly honor the windows to heaven He has opened for us, and to be a window to heaven for all who see us.

From "Bad Icons" @ "Glory to God for all things"

"...even badly marred images of Christ in other human beings can reveal the depth of the love of God if seen by the eyes of a saint."

We are badly marred images, and God knows, none of us are saints, so you might have to look a through all the cracks and scratches and smudges, and sometimes sift through the broken shards, but He is still there is us all. 
But don't stop looking for heaven, find better windows if you need to, but never stop looking for Him.  He is always closer than we know.
And we will try to allow Him to shine up these windows and let more of His light in.

God Believes In You

When you start to doubt that you exist, God believes in you
Confounded by the evidence, God believes in you
When your light burns so dim, when your chances seem so slim
And you swear you don't believe in him, God believes in you

When you rise up just to fall again, God believes in you
Deserted by your closest friends, God believes in you
When you're betrayed with a kiss, you turn your cheek to another fist
It dose not have to end like this, God believes in you

Oh everything matters if anything matters at all
Everything matters no matter how big, no matter how small
Oh God believes in you, God believes in you

When you're so ashamed that you could die, God believes in you
And you can't do right even though you try, God believes in you
Blessed are the ones who grieve, the ones who mourn, the ones who bleed
In sorrow you sow but in joy you reap, God believes in you

 

---

Pierce Pettis
From the album Everything Matters, © 1998

---

The Nativity of John the Baptist: On the brightest day of the year, we echo the cry of from the Darkest Day:

Tramonto a Tropea 5 - Tropea Sunset 5, originally uploaded by Zurgo.

From December 21st Vespers, the Antiphon to the Magnificat

O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae,
et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina
sedentes in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.


O Day-spring, O Morning Star, O Breaking Sun, O Son of Righteousness
splendor of the light eternal and bright sun of righteousness:
come and bring light to those who dwell in darkness
and walk in the shadow of death.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

LAST NIGHT I DREAMED....

My Father's House

Bruce Springsteen

Last night I dreamed that I was a child out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest before the darkness falls

I heard the wind rustling through the trees and ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin’ at my heels

I broke through the trees and there in he night
My father’s house stood shining hard and bright the branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell shaking in his arms

I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again sir tear us from each other’s hearts
I got dressed and to that house I did ride from out on the road I could see its windows shining in light

I walked up the steps and stood on the porch a woman I didn’t recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story and who I’d come for
She said "I’m sorry son but no one by that name lives here anymore"

My father’s house shines hard and bright it stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling so cold and alone
Shining cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned

In paradisum deducant te Angeli

"May angels lead you into Paradise;
may the martyrs receive you at your coming
and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem.
May a choir of angels receive you..."

For C.W., Brother, Friend, Gentle Man, Living Peotry, You made all music  heavenly, and your were a true icon of Christ to our family.

Forgive me. I mourn like one who has no hope.  It is something you would not have wanted.
There have been many partings, this one should not be. 
Lord, guard our faith, as we wait for the light.

Day is ended, dim my eyes,
but journey long before me lies.
Farewell, friends! I hear the call.
The ship's beside the stony wall.
Foam is white and waves are grey;
beyond the sunset leads my way.
Foam is salt, the wind is free;
I hear the rising of the Sea.

Farewell, friends! The sails are set,
the wind is east, the moorings fret.
Shadows long before me lie,
beneath the ever-bending sky,
but islands lie behind the Sun
that I shall raise ere all is done;
lands there are to west of West,
where night is quiet and sleep is rest.

Guided by the Lonely Star,
beyond the utmost harbour-bar,
I'll find the heavens fair and free,
and beaches of the Starlit Sea.
Ship, my ship! I seek the West,
and fields and mountains ever blest.
Farewell to Middle-earth at last.
I see the Star above my mast!

JRR Tolkien

Bilbo's Last Song, At the Grey Havens