Christina Delaney

Be Seated

While at Mass the other day, one of my friends, Chris, was the lector. The priest and deacon were seated, and the 3rd chair next to Fr. Mike was vacant. After he finished reading, Chris headed to a seat, behind the 3 chairs where the priest and deacon were. Fr. Mike stopped Chris, patted theContinue reading “Be Seated”

Loving Signs

I am sometimes stopped at a traffic light alongside a bus, waiting to turn into the school campus. When I see the students by the windows, I think back to my own childhood, riding the bus early in the morning. Anticipation of the school day looms. Who knows what kind of morning the children haveContinue reading “Loving Signs”

Conversing Cardinals

I’m found Between two cardinal calls, Eavesdropping, Honored to listen, Imagining the conversation, Sensing morning’s joy. I’m found.

FROM

I am from moving vans, new schools and good-byes. I am from foreign languages becoming familiar, then back to English again. I am from sifting sand in a wooden box, perched on a corner seat my father made, From matching sisters’ frilly dresses, hand crafted by our mother. I am from back yard turtles andContinue reading “FROM”

Gazebo Prelude

“My” gazebo. 6:30 AM I’ve never been here this early, Waking with the birds’ morning praises. I listen. No Merlin app to tell me whose song. The Robin dominates – is she a morning person? A dove “coo coos” under a tree. Blue Jay calls from afar (when will he draw near?). A chipping sparrow,Continue reading “Gazebo Prelude”

Life Bubbles

She gave me a wee pink plastic vial with a wand inside. Her instructions called me to remember when I was young and took delight in simple pleasures. I found myself outside, blowing tiny bubbles into the warm summer air. Some were teeny. All were perfectly round. Some doubled up to join with another. AllContinue reading “Life Bubbles”

Jump Higher

On a shepherd’s hook, under the tulip magnolia in my backyard hang two bird feeders. I enjoy peeking out the garage window to catch a glimpse of various birds partaking of the seed mix. More often than not, squirrels under the tree are eating the spilled seeds on the ground. A convenient breakfast! This morningContinue reading “Jump Higher”

Hear My Voice

When I sit close to the front of church at morning Mass, I occasionally hear someone make a noise behind me. Without seeing them, I can often identify who is making the sound. Joan has a certain way to clear her throat. Donald coughs in a low soft tone. Pam has a prolonged throat clearing,Continue reading “Hear My Voice”

Noah, God and me

While hearing Genesis 8: 1-12 proclaimed at Mass, I felt Noah’s gentle hand on my heart.Noah opened the hatch of the ark at the end of 40 days during the great flood. He firstreleased a raven that “flew back and forth until the waters dried off from the Earth.” It’sunclear if the raven stayed awayContinue reading “Noah, God and me”

Snow prints

Snow prints. They can tell the story of who visited this place, and show the chosen path. I see that deer stepped onto a frozen pond, just as far as the snow-covered ice ended. Did they drink from the exposed water circle, before jumping to solid ground? I see a grass-exposed hillside. The white groundContinue reading “Snow prints”