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Psychical – psychic – supposedly sensitive to forces beyond the physical world
“Herlock Sholmes, by his marvelous psychical power, detected the question which was framing itself in my mind.”
the complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, Charles Hamilton, 1921
Triune – a triad; the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit)
“I see it clear: June coming in bright on the breeze through open window: there is no real reality, no full life, outside of the relationship with Love, because God Himself wraps Himself eternally in relationship: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit existing in relationship, an encircling dance of communion sweetest. God is Love – everywhere! everything! – and He can only be love because He exists in triune relationship.“
One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp, 2010
“The worst of it ism I’ve never seen Mynheer Schwottem,” groaned [Inspector] Pinkeye. “He’s a bit of a mystery man, as you know. Beyond the fact that he was fat, wore a heavy flaxen mustache and beard and blue spectacles. I can get no good description of him. Help me to find him and his ray apparatus, Mr. Sholmes, and if ever you are arrested for not paying your income tax, I’ll visit you in prison.”
“The Schowottem Ray”, Inspector Pinkeye to Herlock Sholmes, The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, 1924
When I moved from one house to another
there were many things I had no room
for. What does one do? I rented a storage
space. And filled it. Years passed.
Occasionally I went there and looked in,
but nothing happened, not a single
twinge of the heart.
As I grew older the things I cared
about grew fewer, but were more
important. So one day I undid the lock
and called the trash man. He took
everything.
I felt like the little donkey when
his burden is finally lifted. Things!
Burn them, burn them! Make a beautiful
fire! More room in your heart for love,
for the trees! For the birds who own
nothing - the reason they can fly.
("Storage", by Mary Oliver, printed in Devotions, 2017)
Do you bow your head when you pray or do you look up into that blue space?
Take your choice, prayers fly from all directions.
And don't worry about what language you use,
God no doubt understands them all.
Even when the swans are flying north and making
such a ruckus of noise, God is surely listening and understanding.
Rumi said, There is no proof of the soul.
But isn't the return of spring and how it
springs up in our hearts a pretty good hint?
Yes, I know, God's silence never breaks, but is that really a problem?
There are thousands of voices, after all.
And furthermore, don't you imagine (I just suggest it)
that the swans know about as much as we do about the whole business?
So listen to them and watch them, singing as they fly.
Take from it what you can.
("Whistling Swans", by Mary Oliver, printed in Devotions, 2017
“For a moment I though our client was suffering from batisimus belfritis – in other words, bats in the belfry.”
Dr Jotson in “The Schwottem ray”, The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, 1924
“With the approach of the holiday season I noticed alarming symptoms in my amazing friend, Mr. Herlock Sholmes. At frequent intervals his eyes would turn inwards and concentrate on the end of his aquiline nose. Then he would make a vicious sweep with his hand as though to remove an imaginary fly from the tip of his highly-developed proboscis. He would awake at night yelling that spotted starfish were jumping at him. These symptoms led me to the reluctant conclusion that Sholmes was suffering from a condition known to the medical profession as temporarius non compos mentis, or, in other words, a temporary attack of bats in the belfry.”
“The Mystery of the Vacant House”, The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, Charles Hamilton, printed 1921
This morning the redbirds' eggs
have hatched and already the chicks
are chirping for food. They don't
know where it's coming from, they
just keep shouting, "More! More!"
As to anything else, they haven't
had a single thought. Their eyes
haven't opened, they know nothing
about the sky that's waiting. Or
the thousands, the millions of trees.
They don't even know they have wings.
And just like that, like a simple
neighborhood event, a miracle is
taking place.
("This Morning", by Mary Oliver, printed in Devotions, 2017)
“When one can feel and appreciate the joys and sorrows of others, the right words will come naturally. Unkind words are the fruits of selfishness… There is no amount of brilliancy that can, in the affections of our friends, take the place of kindness of speech.”
Beautiful Girlhood, Mabel Hale, original publication date 1922, my copy printed 2001
Proverbs 20: 11 (KJV) Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Genesis 36: 24 (KJV) And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
When you think of these names – these people who are mentioned in the Bible – what do you think about?
Here is what I think about: Joseph was known for his integrity. Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. David was known for victory and sin: killing Goliath and adultery with Bathsheba. Jonah had a great track record as a prophet until he ran from God and ended up inside a whale. Mary was favored of God and given the task of being the virgin mother of the Son of God. Peter was known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, even denying the Lord three times, but when his faith was strengthened, he preached to thousands on the day of Pentecost. Paul was the Apostle who wrote most of the New Testament.
But have you ever heard these names?
And here are some people who have great stories, yet they remain unnamed in the Word of God:
God thought it was important to mention each of these people in the Bible, whether they were an example of godliness or wickedness. They prove that no life is ignored or forgotten by God. Remember the woman with the alabaster box? In Matthew 26: 7-13, she poured all of her expensive ointment on Jesus’ feet. When the disciples murmured about it, Jesus said she would be mentioned everywhere the Gospel is preached. He wanted them to know that nothing is overlooked, no act is unrewarded. As Proverbs says, even a child is known by his doings.
Originally, I wrote this for a January devotional. I was thinking about people who make resolutions or decisions that are supposed to impact their lives for twelve months. Some people resolve to focus on health, so they start going to the gym and eating better foods. Others resolve to read all of the Bible that year. Still others resolve to give up bad habits like drinking or smoking. They think they can keep their resolutions by their own strength. Soon they get discouraged and many quit before January turns into February.
I want to challenge you to stop and take a few moments to think about your decisions and actions. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know that any of us could make a life-altering decision at any moment. You could be known for the rest of your life for a decision you are about to make. I could be known for the way that I react to something in the next hour. All Anah did was find mules in the wilderness, but God put that in the Holy Scriptures for the rest of the world to read about.
Look back at last year. What events or memories stand out to you? What do you think people will remember from your life over the last few months?
Now look forward. What do you want to be known for today? Tomorrow? Next month? Next year?
Hi! I'm Cadie. Welcome to my Collection of Bookish Thoughts where I will share with you everything I love about books.
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