Eric Blauer

Keeping Our Small Boat Afloat�by Robert Bly

So many blessings
have been given to us�During the first distribution of light,
that we are admired
in a thousand galaxies
for our grief.

Don’t expect us to appreciate creation
or to avoid mistakes.
Each of us is a latecomer to the earth,
picking up wood for the fire.

Every night another beam of light
slips out from the oyster’s closed eye.
So don’t give up hope�that the door of mercy
may still be open.

Seth and Shem,
tell me, are you still grieving�over the spark of light
that descended
with no defender near
into the Egypt of Mary’s womb?

It’s hard to grasp
how much generosity�is involved in letting us go on breathing,�when we contribute nothing valuable
but our grief.

Each of us deserves to be forgiven,
if only for our persistence
in keeping our small boat afloat�when so many have gone down
in the storm.

(Artist: Anne Packard)

Perpetua and Felicity: Women Martyrs of the Faith

An appetizer from my sermon this Sunday in my series 'Women Where Art Thou?'. An interesting statement in the preface of the early 3rd century letter that speaks of the Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit at work, and especially for the last days.

Selection from: ‘The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity’

Events: March 7, 203 AD in Carthage, North Africa during the persecution under Septimius Severus.

Preface + final compilation: shortly after, likely 203–205 AD (some think (though debated) that maybe Tertullian is the editor of this)

“Let people take care, however, not to judge the power of the Holy Spirit as though it were confined to particular times. Some later things ought even to be valued more highly, because they are closer to the end of the age, in keeping with the greater outpouring of grace reserved for the final period of the world.

For the Lord says, “In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out my Spirit; your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”

Therefore we—who acknowledge and honor prophecies and receive modern visions as equally promised to us, and who regard the other workings of the Holy Spirit as gifts given to the Church for its service—consider it necessary both to record these things in writing and to preserve them through public reading, for the glory of God.”

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0324.html

“Bards drag out the heart kicking and screaming and compel her to wail, to weep and to prophesy, to slit her throat on the knife of brutal truthfulness. Honesty strangles herself with her own hands, it’s a Greek tragedy for sure; but a necessary death that testifies that there are still those who know how to really live.”

Read and listen (explicit lyrics/addiction/depression):
https://open.substack.com/pub/ericblauer/p/the-haunting-songs?r=eygg6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web