Comments on: Sing, for you have wings http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:24:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Maureen http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-27176 Maureen Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:43:22 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-27176 And experiences like today. We closed with "How great thou art". We had decided at practice earlier this week to do the 3rd verse <i>a cappella</i> because we had the SATB balance to do it. (Another of God's great gifts - getting to sing with wonderful musicians and their equally talented children!) This morning, both reviewing the music before mass and then singing it at the end, I had tears of joy running down my face during the refrain. How great Thou art indeed! And experiences like today. We closed with “How great thou art”. We had decided at practice earlier this week to do the 3rd verse a cappella because we had the SATB balance to do it. (Another of God’s great gifts – getting to sing with wonderful musicians and their equally talented children!) This morning, both reviewing the music before mass and then singing it at the end, I had tears of joy running down my face during the refrain. How great Thou art indeed!

]]> By: Susan http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-27017 Susan Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:24:00 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-27017 My favorite? "His Eye is on the Sparrow"~ I sing because I'm happy I sing because I'm free For His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me My favorite? “His Eye is on the Sparrow”~

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

]]> By: deerose http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26937 deerose Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:01:19 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26937 The music that gives me the greatest amount of peace and/or joy varies. Listening to some renditions of chant, especially that of Hildegard of Bingen, enables me to connect better with the love of the transcendant God. This music seems to almost deliver me from this sometimes mundane planet to a more celestial, spiritual realm. I sometimes use it as a type of meditation. Both the words and music of the song "Day by Day" from Godspell bring me a sense of unabashed joy and happiness. I don't know exactly why. But the harmony and increasing instrumental involvement is so uplifting. The lyrics, simple as they are, seem to say it all. Some hymns I like are "You are the Center of my Life", "Lord of the Dance" and "All Creatures of our God and King". I can't really sing along with most of the chant, but I can with the others. Oh, I am a dog-lover too. Petting, hugging and kissing (yes, kissing) my dog when I am in need of a jolt of joy works well. Dogs are so sweet, cute, uncomplicated, soft and cuddly and full of unconditional love. And they are just about always happy to see you. They can help me forget the heaviness in life. Also, I sense that they are a sort of bridge, or a connecting energy, that brings me closer to the earth, the wild, the mystery, the cosmos ... God. Kinda weird I know. But it appears to be a kind of unitive thing. dee The music that gives me the greatest amount of peace and/or joy varies. Listening to some renditions of chant, especially that of Hildegard of Bingen, enables me to connect better with the love of the transcendant God. This music seems to almost deliver me from this sometimes mundane planet to a more celestial, spiritual realm. I sometimes use it as a type of meditation. Both the words and music of the song “Day by Day” from Godspell bring me a sense of unabashed joy and happiness. I don’t know exactly why. But the harmony and increasing instrumental involvement is so uplifting. The lyrics, simple as they are, seem to say it all. Some hymns I like are “You are the Center of my Life”, “Lord of the Dance” and “All Creatures of our God and King”. I can’t really sing along with most of the chant, but I can with the others.

Oh, I am a dog-lover too. Petting, hugging and kissing (yes, kissing) my dog when I am in need of a jolt of joy works well. Dogs are so sweet, cute, uncomplicated, soft and cuddly and full of unconditional love. And they are just about always happy to see you. They can help me forget the heaviness in life. Also, I sense that they are a sort of bridge, or a connecting energy, that brings me closer to the earth, the wild, the mystery, the cosmos … God. Kinda weird I know. But it appears to be a kind of unitive thing.

dee

]]> By: Sue http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26906 Sue Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:16:25 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26906 What makes me sing changes,today it's the fact that tomorrow I'm getting this cast off my left arm,and finding out what the plan is to get the R arm moving if doc gives ok! Yes!! I'm not such a good singer,but I'll be singing anyway,and looks like in the rain too! What makes me sing changes,today it’s the fact that tomorrow I’m getting this cast off my left arm,and finding out what the plan is to get the R arm moving if doc gives ok! Yes!! I’m not such a good singer,but I’ll be singing anyway,and looks like in the rain too!

]]> By: Jeff http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26900 Jeff Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:46:34 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26900 I'm not a singer but I can play the harp and my daily hour spent playing the harp with God as my audience is what sustains me through difficult days. It's also a great way to celebrate life's joys. Many harpy returns! I’m not a singer but I can play the harp and my daily hour spent playing the harp with God as my audience is what sustains me through difficult days. It’s also a great way to celebrate life’s joys.
Many harpy returns!

]]> By: jean http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26895 jean Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:04:04 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26895 And poetry, always poetry. Two favorites (and anything by Dorianne Laux): Singapore by Mary Oliver in "House of Light" In Singapore, in the airport, A darkness was ripped from my eyes. In the women’s restroom, one compartment stood open. A woman knelt there, washing something in the white bowl. Disgust argued in my stomach and I felt, in my pocket, for my ticket. A poem should always have birds in it. Kingfishers, say, with their bold eyes and gaudy wings. Rivers are pleasant, and of course trees. A waterfall, or if that’s not possible, a fountain rising and falling. A person wants to stand in a happy place, in a poem. When the woman turned I could not answer her face. Her beauty and her embarrassment struggled together, and neither could win. She smiled and I smiled. What kind of nonsense is this? Everybody needs a job. Yes, a person wants to stand in a happy place, in a poem. But first we must watch her as she stares down at her labor, which is dull enough. She is washing the tops of the airport ashtrays, as big as hubcaps, with a blue rag. Her small hands turn the metal, scrubbing and rinsing. She does not work slowly, nor quickly, like a river. Her dark hair is like the wing of a bird. I don’t doubt for a moment that she loves her life. And I want to rise up from the crust and the slop and fly down to the river. This probably won’t happen. But maybe it will. If the world were only pain and logic, who would want it? Of course, it isn’t. Neither do I mean anything miraculous, but only the light that can shine out of a life. I mean the way she unfolded and refolded the blue cloth, The way her smile was only for my sake; I mean the way this poem is filled with trees, and birds. *************************** And "Bugs in a Bowl," by David Budbill, from Moment to Moment: Poems of a Mountain Recluse (Copper Canyon Press). Han Shan, that great and crazy, wonder-filled Chinese poet of a thousand years ago, said: We're just like bugs in a bowl. All day going around never leaving their bowl. I say, That's right! Every day climbing up the steep sides, sliding back. Over and over again. Around and around. Up and back down. Sit in the bottom of the bowl, head in your hands, cry, moan, feel sorry for yourself. Or. Look around. See your fellow bugs. Walk around. Say, Hey, how you doin'? Say, Nice Bowl! And poetry, always poetry. Two favorites (and anything by Dorianne Laux):

Singapore by Mary Oliver in “House of Light”

In Singapore, in the airport,
A darkness was ripped from my eyes.
In the women’s restroom, one compartment stood open.
A woman knelt there, washing something
in the white bowl.

Disgust argued in my stomach
and I felt, in my pocket, for my ticket.

A poem should always have birds in it.
Kingfishers, say, with their bold eyes and gaudy wings.
Rivers are pleasant, and of course trees.
A waterfall, or if that’s not possible, a fountain
rising and falling.
A person wants to stand in a happy place, in a poem.

When the woman turned I could not answer her face.
Her beauty and her embarrassment struggled together, and
neither could win.
She smiled and I smiled. What kind of nonsense is this?
Everybody needs a job.

Yes, a person wants to stand in a happy place, in a poem.
But first we must watch her as she stares down at her labor,
which is dull enough.
She is washing the tops of the airport ashtrays, as big as
hubcaps, with a blue rag.
Her small hands turn the metal, scrubbing and rinsing.
She does not work slowly, nor quickly, like a river.
Her dark hair is like the wing of a bird.

I don’t doubt for a moment that she loves her life.
And I want to rise up from the crust and the slop
and fly down to the river.
This probably won’t happen.
But maybe it will.
If the world were only pain and logic, who would want it?

Of course, it isn’t.
Neither do I mean anything miraculous, but only
the light that can shine out of a life. I mean
the way she unfolded and refolded the blue cloth,
The way her smile was only for my sake; I mean
the way this poem is filled with trees, and birds.

***************************
And “Bugs in a Bowl,” by David Budbill, from Moment to Moment: Poems of a Mountain Recluse (Copper Canyon Press).

Han Shan, that great and crazy, wonder-filled Chinese poet of a thousand years ago, said:

We’re just like bugs in a bowl. All day going around never leaving their bowl.

I say, That’s right! Every day climbing up
the steep sides, sliding back.

Over and over again. Around and around.
Up and back down.

Sit in the bottom of the bowl, head in your hands,
cry, moan, feel sorry for yourself.

Or. Look around. See your fellow bugs.
Walk around.

Say, Hey, how you doin’?
Say, Nice Bowl!

]]> By: jean http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26893 jean Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:34:06 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26893 Memories and pictures of my "best dog", my fourteen year old blue heeler - who died alomost two years ago - in his life jacket in our kayak; "gazing at me with love"; marching around town off leash carrying his "job" (a red rubber toy that I kept replacing over the course of his life); our seven-year morning routine of our coffee shop, that good boy dashing into behind the counter to get his cookie and then dashing back outside to wait for me (and engage every passerby in a game of tug-of-war over his job); and absolutely disgusting though it is, his utter and focused joy when he came across some drunk college kid's puke (college towns: dog heaven). He teaches me poverty of spirit: a good life can be pretty basic. Very basic. Memories and pictures of my “best dog”, my fourteen year old blue heeler – who died alomost two years ago – in his life jacket in our kayak; “gazing at me with love”; marching around town off leash carrying his “job” (a red rubber toy that I kept replacing over the course of his life); our seven-year morning routine of our coffee shop, that good boy dashing into behind the counter to get his cookie and then dashing back outside to wait for me (and engage every passerby in a game of tug-of-war over his job); and absolutely disgusting though it is, his utter and focused joy when he came across some drunk college kid’s puke (college towns: dog heaven).

He teaches me poverty of spirit: a good life can be pretty basic. Very basic.

]]> By: Maureen http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26892 Maureen Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:14:26 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26892 "How can I keep from singing?" is a favorite. Most of my toughest times were faced long before we met (child's death, divorce, Mom's first cancer), but my husband definitely keeps me going. I'm sure that's why God fixed us up. The group I sing with at church is another source of strength, and there's a prayer list at work that it seems I'm constantly asking to pray for this friend or that family member. What a <i>huge</i> blessing to have such a "prayer army" at my disposal! “How can I keep from singing?” is a favorite.

Most of my toughest times were faced long before we met (child’s death, divorce, Mom’s first cancer), but my husband definitely keeps me going. I’m sure that’s why God fixed us up.

The group I sing with at church is another source of strength, and there’s a prayer list at work that it seems I’m constantly asking to pray for this friend or that family member. What a huge blessing to have such a “prayer army” at my disposal!

]]> By: Amparo http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26891 Amparo Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:09:32 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26891 I sing in spanish because thats my mother tonge, and this lyric from a Sister Glenda's song says clearly what makes me sing. If you don't understand spanish you can read Psalm 101 and its pretty much the same... <b>Para Tí toda mi música Señor</b> LA MUSICA SE PARECE A TI SEÑOR NO SE VE PERO LLEGA A LO MAS PROFUNDO PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA QUIERO CANTAR CON LA DULZURA DE LA BONDAD Y LA JUSTICIA QUIERO TENER CONCIENCIA RECTA DENTRO DE MI QUIERO FIJARME EN LO QUE ES DIGNO QUIERO MIRAR CON OJOS LIMPIOS PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR SOLO PARA TI, SOLO DE TI SOLO POR TI SEÑOR QUIERO CANTAR CON LA HUMILDAD CON LA BELLEZA Y LA VERDAD QUIERO DAR VIDA CON MI CANTO A LOS DEMAS QUIERO HABLAR AL CORAZON CONSOLAR CON MI VOZ PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR SOLO DE TI, SOLO PARA TI SOLO POR TI SEÑOR PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA I sing in spanish because thats my mother tonge, and this lyric from a Sister Glenda’s song says clearly what makes me sing. If you don’t understand spanish you can read Psalm 101 and its pretty much the same…
Para Tí toda mi música Señor

LA MUSICA SE PARECE A TI SEÑOR
NO SE VE PERO LLEGA A LO MAS PROFUNDO

PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR
PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR
PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA

QUIERO CANTAR CON LA DULZURA
DE LA BONDAD Y LA JUSTICIA
QUIERO TENER CONCIENCIA RECTA DENTRO DE MI
QUIERO FIJARME EN LO QUE ES DIGNO
QUIERO MIRAR CON OJOS LIMPIOS

PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR
PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI, TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR
SOLO PARA TI, SOLO DE TI
SOLO POR TI SEÑOR

QUIERO CANTAR CON LA HUMILDAD
CON LA BELLEZA Y LA VERDAD
QUIERO DAR VIDA CON MI CANTO
A LOS DEMAS
QUIERO HABLAR AL CORAZON
CONSOLAR CON MI VOZ

PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR
PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR
SOLO DE TI, SOLO PARA TI
SOLO POR TI SEÑOR

PARA TI, PARA TI, PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA SEÑOR
PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA
PARA TI TODA MI MUSICA

]]> By: Lindsay http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26890 Lindsay Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:42:42 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26890 what make me sing is the day that god has given me, in the past week or so i've been waking up 10 minutes earlier and thanking god that i woke up and have another day to live. also how he is always around me and helping me in ways that i didn't see him in before. what make me sing is the day that god has given me, in the past week or so i’ve been waking up 10 minutes earlier and thanking god that i woke up and have another day to live. also how he is always around me and helping me in ways that i didn’t see him in before.

]]> By: Another Sister Julie, CSSF http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26887 Another Sister Julie, CSSF Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:04:11 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26887 Uh, that's "inmost." Pray that I can learn to type, spell AND preview my work! Uh, that’s “inmost.”

Pray that I can learn to type, spell AND preview my work!

]]> By: Another Sister Julie, CSSF http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26886 Another Sister Julie, CSSF Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:03:16 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26886 This is what I sing. Well, either that or "All Shall Be Well," or maybe a Psalm or two! <i>My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation I hear the sweet though far off hymn That hails a new creation: No storm can shake my inost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging. Since God is Lord of heav'n and earth, how can I keep from singing? written by Robert Lowry</i> This is what I sing. Well, either that or “All Shall Be Well,” or maybe a Psalm or two!

My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:

No storm can shake my inost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since God is Lord of heav’n and earth,
how can I keep from singing?

written by Robert Lowry

]]> By: Venite http://anunslife.org/2009/03/25/sing-for-you-have-wings/#comment-26879 Venite Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:18:17 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=2184#comment-26879 I don't have wings, but the one holding my hands does. :) I don’t have wings, but the one holding my hands does. :)

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