blessings in words

These words blessed me this week:

from my friend Hilary -- about making room for our own stories instead of trying to make them reflect another's:

"It must be that this is part of the way we learn about ourselves: that we release the dreams of who we might be, free ourselves of the clinging hope of someone else’s beautiful self. We let the character we wanted to play float out the window under a Colorado sky, and we buy a cowboy hat and hug our brothers, and let our sister braid our non-effortless hair in two French braids when she asks."

from NT Wright -- about the women-as-bishops controversy, gender reconciliation, and the power of the resurrection:

"All Christian ministry begins with the announcement that Jesus has been raised from the dead. And Jesus entrusted that task, first of all, not to Peter, James, or John, but to Mary Magdalene. Part of the point of the new creation launched at Easter was the transformation of roles and vocations: from Jews-only to worldwide, from monoglot to multilingual (think of Pentecost), and from male-only leadership to male and female together."

from Isaiah 9:2-7, NLT -- about darkness and light, hope, and release from oppression:

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. The will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government wand its peace will never end. he will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity."

from "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day" performed by Casting Crowns -- about peace on earth, God's dwelling on earth, and "right prevailing":

Then rang the bells more loud and deep

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep 

(Peace on earth, peace on earth) 

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail 

With peace on earth, goodwill to men 

Then ringing singing on its way 

The world revolved from night to day 

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime 

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men  

And the bells, they're ringing 

Like a choir they're singing 

And with our hearts we'll hear them 

Peace on earth, goodwill to men

Happy December!

[Boston, MA]