It’s Ramadan. Every year at Ramadan I think about how much I’d really love to have Muslim friends. Right now the closest I can get to saying ‘I have Muslim friends’ is that my neighbor Helene, is Muslim-ish, and that Cate has two adorable little schoolyard buddies who are Muslim, one of whom even wears the veil. (You should see her self-portrait in the school hallway, it’s so adorable!)

I’ve been shamelessly using my six-year-old’s ‘connections’ for two years now, as I vie for an invite to Eid ul-fitir. I’m not getting very far. Here’s a feel for how my playground conversations usually go.

Urban Abbess: Hey Zainab! How are you?

Zainab: Good. (giggle giggle)

U.A.: Hey, it’s almost … {read more…}

The Scripture:

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my delight, for I bear you name, O Lord God Almighty. I never sat in the company of revelors, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grevious and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails? Therefore this is what the Lord says, “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless words, you will be my spokesman.”
Jeremiah 15:16-19a

Phrases that … {read more…}

The Scripture:

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you wehn I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were it’s footings set, or who laid it’s cornerstone — while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

Phrases and images that arose during lectio:

while the morning stars sang in chorus…all the angels shouted … {read more…}

The Scripture:

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus) was setting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you!” Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want … {read more…}

The Passage:

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like ones who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said amongst the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. The one who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves.

Plsam 126, NIV, adjusted for gender inclusive language.

And now God, do it again … {read more…}

The Passage:

This is what the Lord says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remanent of Israel.’ See I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them for the ends of the earth. Among them wil lbe the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them besides streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, beacuse I … {read more…}

The Passage:

I bless God every chance I get: my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy: join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out. God met me more than half way, he freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. God’s angels set a circle of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see — how … {read more…}

I have been “fasting” an hour a day for Ramadan. I spend my newfound hour honoring the word, and expressing thanksgiving for it’s revelation. It’s a long way from what my friend-of-a-friend Andy describes as “the Christian who bows down to the Muslim’s feet, the Muslim who bows down to the Christian’s feet,” but it’s a start.

I took a trip recently, and that made it hard to keep up with the collage work. (Too many supplies to carry with me.) I’m determined to keep on keeping on until I hit 30 pieces, even if it’s not 30 days. Muslims often add a day to thier 30 day fast … {read more…}

The Scripture for Day One

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty

Jeremiah 15:16

Thoughts on the Story:

Lessons in Being a Prophet
Lesson One: Mood Swings

There Jeremiah is fuming at God. When God’s message first burrowed its way like a spinning dart into the prophet’s heart, he was glad. What revelation! What a privilege! What a feast!

Later, when colleagues misunderstood and friends grew angry….later, ignored and the subject of much anger, the prophet complains. It’s … {read more…}

As Ramadan begins, Muslims around the world will fast and prayer, make confession and repentance. Ramadan celebrates, among other things, the giving of the word. For the People of the Book, it is a time to express reverence and thanksgiving.

I have not expressed thanksgiving for the book of my people for a long time. Somewhere along the line my holy text got turned into a rule book. It lost its lore, it wonder and its intrigue. I don’t want it to be a rule book. I want it to be…..my grandmother’s scrapbook–full of notes, half-formed poems, handwritten recipes, ticket stub, yellowing newspaper clipping, a corsage from a ball with a date unknown, the dried wing of a butterfly.

So, I … {read more…}