Sunday, May 1, 2011

reluctant rituals




some say journaling or writing has a way of averting suicidal tendencies
well, i believe that true only because the lead is never sharp enough
to do fatal damage except maybe to the ego sketched and doodled
across a page.  dull lead injected into the heart only weighs slow
on the blood feeding further insanity to a brain capable of abstract
visions repressed. there are those (like the i) who never get their aim right
(blind fools -  the i calls them) stabbing both occipital lobes in order
to relieve pain, like our Francis
totally unaware of his future following
robed and un-robed.
how many has he lead
in path and prayer...
now many a wolf has been befriended...
or nourishment shared.  he knew he
was an instrument, a cave dweller - are we all instruments (reluctant)?
or is the instrument in our hand?...to turn it on ourselves
is a personal choice i suppose.   my sharpening tool is a but forged
dull knife, unless i can instituted funds for a more modern tooling any
damage i could administer would be more painful than reluctant rituals written.

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2011




i read this book  Reluctant Saint by Donald Spoto -a couple years back now..Francis was a soul that could not truly know the impact he would make on the world and its future...some say he was saint, some say insane...either way no one can deny his legacy....bkm



Posted for:  Magpie Tales

36 comments:

  1. excellent..very creatively put...I've read it three times.

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  2. Are we all not insane?

    Although we are all not saints--grin!

    Francis--one of my heroes...

    PEACE! (SEE??)

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  3. Barbara, I must tell you that 'journaling' saved my ass from killing myself during the mid-50's--during years it was not nearly so popular as now.

    You write good!

    I like created word-blocks i.e., "...reluctant rituals written." (They 'send' me--grin!)

    I am enjoying commenting around, without the self-imposed necessity of posting my own blog. It is truly a needed 'vacation'...

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  4. Thank you Anthony, I also love your comments because I know they are sincere and I truly appreciate that...bkm

    Thank you Steve...I am so glad you liked this..I wrote about a week ago and let it sit..going back I liked the spontanous write, I change a few words and shape..I always adored the image of Francis..he lived in both joy and pain but his following circles the world..thanks for stopping by always enjoy your comments...

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  5. Barbara,

    We may be too smart for ourselves. Or maybe too cowardly.

    Trulyfool

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  6. Powerful... inspirational writing. thank you

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  7. good ol' St Francis! Nicely done!

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  8. Wow. I am going to have to find that book. But yours is an extraordinary piece of writing (I read it as a prose poem). I felt every word....the lead is never sharp enough
    to do fatal damage except maybe to the ego sketched and doodled
    across a page.
    How true. And yet the rituals continue, reluctant or not.

    Thank you.

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  9. The mystic life in your words is beautifully recreated in vivid compelling images. You must have been touched by the Spirit! Thanks you for leading us on, bkm!

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  10. beautiful reflections on a truly humble man - "Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light..." fitting words for this week's events

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  11. yet, interesting that you wrote it a week ago...

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  12. I've been reading St. Augustine's "Confessions" off and on for a while now. Like Francis, he may have been a true saint, he may have been insane...maybe a little of each.

    Still, I dig them. And this post.

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  13. BKM, Here's the link..hope to see you:

    http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/?zx=ff94f43f0b4aeffe

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  14. I've heard it that alcoholics drink to keep from going insane ... and it works, for a while ... Writing is a "momentary stay against confusion," as Robert Frost wrote -- we press the pen through our temples and squeeze the blood in fine calligraphy across the page. Such self-torture the anchorites understood, fasting in the wilderness, commending their tiny coracles to the wave without oar or compass, quieting the body's desire with the scourge. Writing is an insanity which keeps us from killing ourselves, for a time, and, according the Hedgewitch, it's cheaper than whiskey. The St. Francis prayer -- "Lord, make me an instrument of Thy will" -- is a daily fixture in my round of prayers (I say them to stay sober) -- And what do we do here, but write God back into the world? - Very "pointed" write -- Brendan

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  15. Fascinating.
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  16. An excellent analysis. And as i see it, writing is a great therapy.

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  17. Makes me sad to think he may have been insane. It also makes me feel closer to him.

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  18. I definitely identify with your thoughts about writing out the blackness--though the pen is more a life jacket for me than a straitjacket. I'm sure everyone that lives the kind of life St Francis did has a touch of madness keeping them company in their skulls--but he managed to live an inspiring and productive life, nonetheless. Enjoyed this piece very much.

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  19. Thanks for sharing, I am going to have to read this book. Adding it to my list.

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  20. This piece is driving me to that book. I called my local Barnes & Noble and ordered a copy for my summer reading stack. Alleluiah! May I need little sleep and take many journeys. This stop was a dang good one. thank you,
    ~Brenda

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  21. i dont know how i missed this before bk..sorry...you open some very dark thoughts...though i like it...i was writing for a year before i embraced the dark and learned to appreciate it for its own beauty...on some level, and maybe based on whoever defines sanity, we are all a bit on the insane side...

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  22. A human saint..I think we're all instruments and instrumental...yin/yang, I guess. So much to think about..thanks..

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  23. Lovely writing- and thanks for the book suggestion- hadn't read this book!

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  24. Interesting post, St Francis is certainly in an inspiring Saint, reluctant or not.

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  25. That was one helluva conclusion.. indeed writing helps better than any therapy!

    Awesome.. xox

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  26. I love "dull lead injected into the heart". I'm currently reading Kazantzakis' "Saint Francis". Powerful book.

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  27. And I say the line between sainthood and insanity is variable and vague...
    Provocative, bkm. And you prompted me to Amazon the book!

    http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2011/05/09/courage-in-my-cup/

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  28. truly agree...

    writing helps one live better life, blogging in communities help too.

    thanks for the book information.

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  29. feet in both worlds, and maybe that's a miracle in itself.

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  30. Saint or sinner - an old story...

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  31. I've read the book - what a man! Reluctant indeed but possessing overwhelming humility.

    The writing? I want to write - my daughter says I should put 'the book' on paper now as according to her I'm 'sitting on a gold mine' but that's not why I would want to do it - I know that for me it would be a letting go and a form of healing. I've always used the excuse that I have to wait for certain people to die before I can go to print!! I believe that everyone has a story to tell.

    Back to St Francis - my mag this week if you're interested, is a true story.

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  32. What a legacy indeed....love this one Bkm! :-)

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