Heard during the Easter Triduum (my version)

Holy Thursday:

There was a man who really wanted to serve God. God told him to find three medium size rocks, put them in a wheelbarrow and take them to the top of the hill. The young man's heart rejoiced at the task. Finally he had been asked to do something for God.As he began his ascend to the top of the hill, people kept on asking him to carry some rocks for them. Soon the wheelbarrow was stock full of rocks. At first the young man was delighted to serve others but as the burden grew and the hill became steeper, his attitude changed. He found himself grumbling. Instead of joy, in his heart he found resentment. He brought his complains to God. He heard the Lord saying: "I only asked you to bring three medium size stones, where did you get all these other stuff?"

Jesus asks us to serve. As we strive to follow his command, we do well to keep our focus on who He has asked us to serve and how he has asked us to do it.


Easter Vigil:

At different times, our lives seem to unravel in front of our very eyes. Wounds, betrayals, sufferings conspire to throw us in the depth of despair. Darkness threatens to envelop us. In situations like this we remember that Christ is our light and the first step is to trust him in the darkness much like the man who finds himself in a dark tunnel. Terrified, he remembers to pray: "Lord send me a light so that I can see my way". The Lord, moved by his plight answers: " I don't have a light to give you but, I AM your light. Take my hand and I will lead you out". His first step out of the tunnel was to trust.

A Life In Two Phases

I just finished reading Tennyson: an Illustrated Life. As I finished the book the fact that stayed with me is how neatly his life can be divided in two phases hinged on the year 1850. That year his life changed dramatically: he published his poem In Memoriam which had been written as a response to the death of his close friend Arthur Hallam; he was named Poet Laureate and most importantly, he got married. The author of the book (the name escapes me now) talks about how Emily, his bride, had brought stability to his life. This second phase of his life was not plagued by insecurities, fears, anxieties, hypochondria, depression. This year seem that have put a lot of these to rest and he went on to live a long productive life.
It made me think of the role of a wife in the life of her husband. I would like to know more about their relationship. How did she manage to help him? Was her influence really important or would success and age have accomplished the same results? What kind of woman was Emily Tennyson?

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Not being an American or a Native English speaker there are many famous literary figures that I, either not know or only know superficially. One of them is Lord Alfred Tennyson.
My 13 yo daughter was reading some of his poems as part of the Ambleside Online poetry study. She had a strong reaction to the poems. She didn't like them. She complained that they didn't rhyme. I suspect she didn't understand them and couldn't relate to them. His poems seem to evoke strong feelings and I think those feelings are foreign to her.
I decided to take on the study she had started. My reaction was different. I liked the poems I read. But I need some context to place the poems in. So I have started a Tennyson study for myself.
Here are some websites with biographical information here and here. Our library has a book by Harold Bloom on Tennyson which I just requested. Hopefully I can write some of what I learn.