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   The Religion Network publishes Monday, Wednesday & Friday
 
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Welcome To The Religion Network!
I'm Lisa Bowman, editor of The Religion Network, a multi-faith Web site. This site provides inspirational quotes through an
exploration of a new spiritual theme every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Religion network is offered with the
conviction that inspiration can be found in all spiritual faiths, and furthermore, that finding the commonalities
among the world's religions is more healing than pointing up their differences.

Religion as an institution is a precious gift, blessing individuals and uplifting communities. However you choose to
worship, I hope this site enhances your journey. If you'd like to know my story, click on biography.
________________________________________________________________________________________

ON TODAY'S SITE:

Elizabeth Searle Lamb, Book of Isaiah, Hildegard of Bingen, Bengali poem
__________________________________________

Dear Readers,

The dreams that play in my mind's sleep theater are rarely worth reviewing. Mostly they're
just "B" films appearing in the single-plex of my night-psyche. Last night's was interesting,
however. I remember I was in seminar being run by a motivational type. I even recall his
name because apparently the recesses of my mind are obsessed with the American Civil
War. His name was Robert Lee (as in Robert E. Lee? Who knows?). Anyway, I felt the need
in this seminar to clarify things for Mr. Lee and the class. I explained that, while we can
perceive God as a raw potato, we can actually only experience him as mashed potatoes.
Bet you never thought of that one. I admit it sounded more profound in the dream, but I can
actually still explain what the tasty metaphor means: Our intellects can perceive the cold
total concept of what God might be. We can see the whole potato, but it is inedible to our
souls in that form. We can't utilize him for energy as the raw potato. But when we open
our hearts to him, the Lord allows himself to be broken into a warm, soft, yummy form
that invites and nourishes us. We are fed by God through the hungry heart.

Seek him with the heart to experience his light, for the intellect
alone perceives him only through a shuttered window.

- Lisa

pink apartments in Venice, Italy
Photo by Stephen Bowman     Venice, Italy


THERE WILL COME

into the dark of night
starshine

into the turmoil of day
an extra measure
of strength

into the hurricane
the eye of calm

into the inner heart
faith

but none of these
are seen
from behind shuttered
windows.


ELIZABETH SEARLE LAMB
From "Bless the Day,"
by June Cotner
Kodansha International, 1998


___________

The people who walk in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.


Isaiah 9: 2-3
The Holy Bible
New King James Version

________


The soul is kissed by God
in its innermost regions.


Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
German Benedictine Abbess, Christian mystic

__________

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The Last Word:

Dive deep, O mind, dive
deep in the ocean of God's beauty!
If you descend to the uttermost depths,
there you will find the gem of love.

Bengali poem


 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 








 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 








 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






Utterly Random Bonus Quote:

Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.

Aesop  (6th century BC)
Author of fables; by tradition, a slave of ancient Greece

 


OUR PREVIOUS
TOPIC :
YOUNG MARY,
WHO SAID "YES"
TO GOD


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SEASON SPECIAL:
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

With links to pages
full of inspirational
quotes, prayers, poems
and Bible quotes about
Christmas and Advent
previously published on
The Religion Network.