Stone Crossings

“Get through the Labyrinth, get through the Labyrinth” is the common refrain of Toggle and his traveling companions in the 80’s movie Labyrinth . I love that movie for so many reasons. Jim Henson is a genius, and the Fraggles…well they need NO introduction, so the movie just enthralls me at different times in my life. I was pondering today though, what does it take to get through the labyrinths of life? Is it moxy, a steely resolve to get through no matter what, or is it a little of... Read Full Story

When I first began blogging nine months ago (sheesh, nine months already?), it was a very lonely experience. I had plenty to say, but I wasn’t sure how to say it and I really wasn’t sure who in the world would ever want to read it. I had a comment or two here and there, precious evidence that people were indeed out there somewhere. Still, I needed encouragement. I got that encouragement one day. It came disguised as L.L. Barkat. L.L. was one of the first regular readers I had, and her blog... Read Full Story

W e pick stones and some of us grate against each other and I scrape dirt back and dig it out and carry away truth: Grace is a hard thing. Boulder hauled in to stabilize a crumbling marriage, Rock to steady a child battered by winds, Stone to rest our world-weary bones. Grace is granite That tears the flesh To be our cornerstone. ::: “ Grace . That's the centerpiece of Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places , shared through the hard and hidden places of my life and the... Read Full Story

Thanks to The Wellblog for graciously reflecting on Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places and hosting a giveaway. Read Full Story

I’ve been meaning to write about LL Barkat’s book, Stone Crossings, for quite some time (sorry LL!!). I first found LL in the comments section of Mark Galli’s blog and followed her over to Seedlings in Stone. Right away I was hooked. LL can find Jesus in not only the “Hard and Hidden Places” but in [...] Read Full Story

from Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places We come to the final chapter in L.L. Barkat 's remarkable first book. This chapter is important for us all, even if more directly important for us post-fifty people and beyond. It speaks of growing older and approaching death in developmental terms, rather than in debilitating terms. Of course the writer to Ecclesiastes is right; there is an age when we do begin to fall apart or lose abilities we had before. The writer may be... Read Full Story

from Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places L.L. points out that between life and death there is normally a semicolon and not merely a comma (different editions of Donne's poem, "Death Be Not Proud"). To leave this life is not something which naturally comes easy. Sometimes a lingering, severe illness facilitates a readiness to do so, and for others, old age makes one ready to go. But all that is against nature in God's original creation before the fall, particularly... Read Full Story

L.L. Barkat tagged me with a meme she invented herself. Here are the rules which she herself cheerfully broke: 1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively. 2. link back to the person who tagged you 3. link back to this parent post ( L.L. Barkat is not so much interested in generating links, but rather in tracking the meme so she can perhaps do a summary post later on that looks at patterns and interesting discoveries.) 4. tag a few friends or five... Read Full Story

Ann, my dear Ann of Holy Experience , who slowly made her way into my heart, has graciously agreed to let me post her picture of Stone Crossings, as part of my Links for Art offering. I first saw the picture when she gave the world this eloquent review of Stone Crossings . Still, I knew nothing about the secrets behind it, the humble beginnings of the table and what Ann's mind and hands had purposed and wrought. So, thank you, Ann, not only for the picture but also for this beautiful story... Read Full Story

From Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places Through a social issues reading club started by L.L., which met at her house, L.L. and some friends began to enter into some of the hurt and wrong of the world. This opened up not only the stories of those who have been wronged and neglected. But made them aware of their own sense of responsibility and inadequacy in doing much about it. But this is where the climbing comes in. Quoting Karangathe, "a worker in Kenya's green belt... Read Full Story