My Faith Pondering
Readings for Bede the Venerable – Priest, Monk, Scholar (25 May 735)
Psalm 19:7–14Wisdom 7:15-22Matthew 13:47-52
“For both we and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts.” (Wisdom 7: 16)
The Writer of Wisdom has divine insight in terms of what God is giving us in our words and understanding. This is especially true as it pertains to Bede (beed).
“At the age of seven, Bede’s parents brought him to the nearby monastery at Jarrow (near Durham in northeast England) for his education. There, as he later wrote, “spending all the remaining time of my life . . . I wholly applied myself to the study of Scripture, and amidst the observance of regular discipline, and the daily care of singing in the church, I always took delight in learning, teaching, and writing.” (From The Great Cloud of Witnesses May 25) Also, “He (Bede) consulted many documents, carefully evaluated their reliability, and cited his sources. His interpretations were balanced and judicious.” (From The Great Cloud of Witnesses May 25)
We are thankful to Bede for giving us the History of the English Church, from which our Episcopal Church has its Apostolic succession. Shouldn’t we all, as Christians, write about our growth in Christ? Ponder on this please. Learning, teaching and writing is also what I am trying to discipline myself to do. That is, to commit myself to life-long learning in faith, fitness and music.
My Fitness Pondering
I’m still stretching more and more. In my pondering I have come to the conclusion that flexibility is most important to me from the waist down. Perhaps strength (particularly upper body strength) is more import from the waist up. So I am trying for flexibility in my waist, lower back, and knees. I am going for greater strength in my chest, back and arms. We’ll see how it goes. Still can’t lock my knees and touch my toes although one respondent reported back to me that she could not only touch her toes but place her hands on the floor while keeping her knees locked. I’m jealous.
My Music Pondering
I am keeping much of what I play to memory. I had to read the music to learn it but I am keeping it through memory. I wonder if other musicians do the same. I find that it is nice to sit at a random piano and just play without having to have sheet music to do so. I don’t know. I’m a work in progress. “We and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts.” (Wisdom 7:16)
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through (and to) the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” John Thomas Frazier Sr.
onewhoponders 