The Best Things in Life are Free...

I promise wedding photos soon...

My little prayer for the tough times...

"foggy morn"
It is so easy to get caught up
with the trappings of wealth in this life.
Grant, O Lord, that I may be free
from greed and selfishness.
Remind me that the best things in life are free.
Love, laughter, caring and sharing.And...my beautiful, calming sea.
Today's Bible reading is:  Luke 12:1-7

Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows."

"morning flight" 
Thought on the financial crisis from Sacred Space

Lord, all this financial turmoil seems to touch my prayer in two ways.

Sometimes I feel moral indignation at the greed of the fat cats whose desire for ever-greater profits has exploited the weak. I hope that they may move from blindness to a sense of the real world of people, and realise the futility of their greed that wants more and more money. "What does it profit to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of your soul?" (Mark 8:36) But I know that such indignation is not always from the good spirit; it may be mixed with Schadenfreude in which there is little charity. I need to watch it.

At other times I feel fear and insecurity for myself and my loved ones. This pushes me to look at myself. Does insecurity make me more self-seeking and less caring about the needs of others, lessening my humanity, clouding my sense that people matter more than money? Or does this worldwide turmoil strengthen my compassion? Poverty is not good in itself, but where it leads to a deeper dependence on God and coexists with generosity it can be a rare grace - remember Jesus marvelling at the widow's mite (Mark 12:41-43).

‘Trop est avare à qui Dieu ne suffit.'
You're too greedy if God is not enough for you.

I wear a widow's mite around my neck at all times. It is over 2,000 years old and was found near the Dead Sea Scrolls.

A column of the Copper Scroll, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Cave 3.
from Columbia University Libraries


This little coin contained in a silver cross reminds me to be grateful and peaceful in the very stormy uncertain and unpleasant times. When so many are loosing everything materially, we must look inward to what we are spiritually. The banks and our creditors may take our worldly goods from us...but they cannot remove or deplete who we truly are...deep within. Our souls remain, egos dented, but soul intact.

"stormy morn" as a tropical storm passes

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs and images are the copyrighted property of Rebecca E. Parsons and cannot be reproduced in any way without written permission.