Our Shakespearean Year
by Jane Tawel
February 27,2021
Our Shakespearean Year “of our discontent” drags on as we have “much to do about nothing” and it looks as if “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow will creep on at this petty pace, to the last syllable of recorded time”; mostly “signifying nothing”. “We have seen better days”. But on the plus side, we have learned that “we know what we are, but know not what we may be”; and while “the course of true love never did run smooth”, we humans are still “what stuff as dreams are made of”. Let’s…
No More — And Yet…
By Jane Tawel
February 25, 2021
*
There are no pictures any more
and yet we long to be seen.
We live inside our own closed doors,
and silently rage against the routine.
*
There are no words we want to share
and work is just a grind.
And even those for whom we care
just often slip our minds.
*
The lives of grey inanities
are revelatory — true.
We miss our shared humanity
and hopeful, bright worldview.
*
The days go ever on and on
just one day like the other.
We long…
February 17, 2021
This will be the first Ash Wednesday in years that I won’t go to a church to begin the season of Lent. Last year when this picture was taken, we still didn’t realize at this time what a year of a sort of “enforced” Lent lay before us. For those of us who try to see the spiritual as alive in the world around us, and who desire to continually learn the necessary requirements of the struggling, emerging wholesome soul, the past year of spiritual disciplines for the care of others, the care of the world that…
Homily #3: Inside, Outside, Upside-Down
By Jane Tawel
February 13, 2021
*
Reflection.
Introspection.
How does your garden grow?
Merrily, merrily or usually contrarily;
It is rarely in what one thinks one knows.
*
There is an inside swirling,
with thoughts and fears and broken bits galore;
and feelings unrestrained take the helm most times
and leave reason and worth cast ashore.
*
The outside waits and wanders
through labyrinths of time;
But whether future, past or now,
we very often find,
that outside does not translate in
unless we introspect
on whether demon or divine
our words and deeds…
Step Away from the Worldview!
By Jane Tawel
February 5, 2021
I got in trouble once teaching at a “Christian” school (my family reading this is thinking right about now, “only once?!?”). Well, I did have issues with a few of the places I worked at (yes, plural). I had a hard time shutting up about the fact that so many people at these “Christian” schools thought by sticking a label on ourselves and calling ourselves “Christian” or “evangelical” was enough. (You will get tired of my constantly putting quotation marks around the word Christian, but if you know anything…
Don’t Worship What You Read
By Jane Tawel
January 23, 2021
*
Don’t worship what you read,
It isn’t set in stone.
No matter if it’s law or creed,
or pamph-a-let or tome;
We have to understand that words
are personalized and timely.
So, hang in here a while with me
While I spin my thoughts rhyme-ly.
*
You understand, it’s just a book,
or documents by nations?
It’s full of good advice and thoughts,
But it’s mostly information.
*
All words were written down by folks
and much we read make darn good quotes.
But when we living now…
Practice Saying This Out-loud: “I Was Wrong”
A poem
By Jane Tawel
January 15, 2021
*
It’s best to start by practicing.
It makes it much less challenging,
than when you find you’re scrambling,
to just admit you’re wrong.
So, spend a little bit of time
Indulging me in musing rhyme.
I’ll tell you just a thing or two,
‘bout what I’ve learned, and what to do.
Just think of this as my word-song,
‘bout how to just admit we’re wrong.
*
The sin that humans first found trying,
which led them to the art of lying,
was when the…
Still not old enough to know better. Enjoys philosophy, spirituality, poetry, books of all genres.Often torn between encouragement & self-directed chastisement.