Good Friday - The Passion of Christ

O Heart of Three-in-the Evening

O Heart of Three-in-the evening,

You nestled the thorn-crowned head;

He leaned on you in His sorrow,

And rested on you when dead.

Ah! Holy Three-in-the evening

He gave you His richest dower;

He met you afar on Calvary,

And made you "His own last hour".

O Brow of Three-in-the evening,

Thou wearest a crimson crown;

Thou art Priest of the hours forever,

And thy voice, as thou goest down

The cycles of time, still murmurs

The story of love each day:

"I held in death the Eternal,

In the long and the far-away."

O Heart of Three-in-the evening,

Mine beats with thine to-day;

Thou tellest the olden story,

I kneel -- and I weep and pray.

Copyright by Abram J. Ryan

*****

Dear Christ

Because, dear Christ, your tender, wounded arm

Bends back the brier that edges life's long way,

That no hurt comes to heart, to soul no harm,

I do not feel the thorns so much to-day.

Because I never knew your care to tire,

Your hand to weary guiding me aright,

Because you walk before and crush the brier,

It does not pierce my feet so much to-night.

Because so often you have harkened to

My selfish prayers, I ask but one thing now,

That these harsh hands of mine add not unto

The crown of thorns upon your bleeding brow.

Copyright by E. Pauline Johnson

*****

A Cold, Dark Day

A cold, dark day

Was Good Friday

Our Lord would die on cross

World to bemoan his loss!

The Blessed Virgin wept,with downcast eyes

-----

A cruel time

For vicious crime

As God's believers weep

Troubled souls seeking sleep

Next morning wake to mystical surprise!

-----

No need to mourn

Christ was reborn

Now devout people pray

Glorious Easter Day!

To heaven,our Lord has risen to stay!

Author Unknown

Photo taken by peacesojourner while walking alongside

the Niagara River.

Buffalo Harbor Cruise on 'Miss Buffalo II' - Part II

Buffalo Harbor Cruise on 'Miss Buffalo' - Part II

As we travelled along the water the tour guide pointed out many of the birds that were nestled along the water's edge

A mother duck with her chicks

We actually sighted kingfishers and great blue herons, white egrets, osprey and other beautiful birds that were nesting along the water's edge. Their colors blended into the rock formations and it was difficult to take photos of them. They can be sighted between April and August when they fly southward.

There is a nesting colony on nearby Motor and Strawberry Islands.

Photographer of this bird unknown

To those who live in Buffalo have you ever wondered what this building is? It is the Emerald Channel Water Intake Building - with the Peace Bridge in the background

The 1907 building takes in 125 million gallons of drinking water for Buffalo every day. Because the intake operates by gravity, the building is rarely visited.

Water rushes into the round brick and concrete building through grates and collects in a circular pool. The water drops 60 feet to a 12-foot diameter, mile-long concrete tunnel burrowed under the river bed. It ends up at the Col. Ward Pumping Station at the foot of Porter Avenue, where it is treated at the filtration plant and sent throughout the city.

Atop the red roof is a guard light for passing ships. Around the exterior wall is a balcony embroidered by curving wrought iron.

1856 Horseshoe Reef Light

with over 1,000 cormorant nests settled on every part of the reef

Between Buffalo and Fort Erie, the International Railroad Bridge was completed in 1873; that bridge was replaced by the present one in 1900.

The Black Rock Rail Yard handled both passenger service and commercial transport of goods into and out of Canada. The railroad bridge remains in heavy usage and is one of the most important rail crossings between the United States and Canada.

The Black Rock Lock located in Buffalo is 650 feet (200 m) in length and 70 feet (21 m) in wide. There is only one chamber and the total weight of the gate is 480 tons.

The lock has been a part of Black Rock since the state of New York built the

Erie Canal in 1833.

Today Black Rock is home to Rich's Research Center and Rich Products, one of Buffalo' largest private employers

Ferry Street Lift Bridge

Because of its strategic position across the Niagara River from Canada, Black Rock was an important crossing place for African-Americans escaping slavery via the Underground Railroad. This heritage is celebrated with an annual Underground Railroad Re-Enactment at Broderick Park on Squaw Island at Niagara and Ferry Streets, the site of a ferry crossing prior to the construction of passenger bridges.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse was built more recently in 2008

As we travelled past the boathouses we could see the graffiti that was created by the West Side Rowing Club high schoolers - it seems it is the tradition that each year's winner of the rowing events record their victory on the side walls of the river.

On most days river boating, fishing, and the picturesque recreational activities of the West Side Rowing Club still continue.

Sunday morning outing

We travelled under the Peace Bridge which is an international bridge between Canada and the United States at the east end of Lake Erie at the source of the Niagara River. It connects the City of Buffalo, New York in the United States to the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario in Canada.

There are five arched spans over the Niagara The total length is 5,800 feet (1,768 m). On June 1, 1927 the bridge was opened to the public.

The Peace Bridge was named to commemorate 100 years of peace between the United States and Canada.

The bridge remains one of North America's important commercial ports - four thousand trucks cross it daily and it is still possible to walk to Canada over the bridge. However, more recently it is important to have your passport with you due to the increased security screening.

*****

It was raining during the three hour boat ride and you will notice that most of the photos have a grey aura to them.

While on the boat I learned that port side means left and and starboard means right and that

New York offers free fishing on June 26 -27th when one can fish without a licence.

If you find yourself in Buffalo I encourage you to take a cruise around the harbor. The boat's narrator has a good knowledge of the area's flora and fauna and so many snippets of interesting information - I have recorded just a small portion of the journey here.

peacesojourner

photos by peacesojourner

Sunday Reflection - Sunset Over The Buffalo Marina, New York

As often as possible I take an evening walk along Buffalo's lakefront Marina. One evening this week was especially special. The things that filled my vision and ears were exceptional.

God is painting the sky with a sunset at the end of this day.

Psalm 65:8 the whole world stands in awe of the great things that you have done. Your deeds bring shouts of joy from one end of the earth to the other.

As I stood at the railing I watched the slow moving boats as they returned to the harbor. Most of the passengers waved to me and called out greetings. It was obvious that they were returning after a relaxing day on Lake Erie.

A local drumming group, Daughters of Creative Sound, practice at the waterside every Wednesday evening. I sat in my lawn chair listening to their wonderful

music and watching the sun set.

1 Chronicles 13:8 - All the people danced with all their might to honor God. They sang and played musical instruments – harps, drums, cymbals and trumpets.

Psalm 100:1 - Make a joyful noise unto the LORD.

Nothing seems closer to heaven

Than a beautiful sweet sunset

The touch of God’s sturdy hand

Seems as close as you can get

A pallet of subtle colors

Sometimes streak across the sky

Or brilliant vibrant shades

As you kiss the day goodbye

I think God is looking down

Smiling at what he’s created

And you know that He is proud

As His splendor is clearly stated

And the reflection in the water

Is like a look into our hearts

Are we peaceful and serene

Or would we like another start

So at the end of a busy day

Enjoy the priceless sunset

Because the evening brings us

As close to heaven as we can get!

Marilyn Lott

*****

I find that even when I may have a heavy heart it is impossible not to find gratitude in the daily events of life. This particular evening was filled with so many amazing sights and sounds. People stopped talking and gathered around to listen to the music, children (and some adults) were dancing quietly and the sun slowly set on this sweet scene away from the hustle and bustle of a large city. I went home filled with gratitude and happy to be living here.

photos by peacesojourner

Blessing the Niagara Waters - Squaw Island , NY

Water.......a Blessing

A Ritual Commitment to Our Niagara Waters

In the background the Peace Bridge between the United States and Canada

Water Dance by the Spirit Dance Company

View from Squaw Island, Broderick Park, Buffalo

Looking across the border, yes, the shoreline  you see is in Canada.

 This past weekend, March 21, 2009, a fairly large group of people gathered at the edge of the Niagara waters to celebrate the Vernal Equinox - the coming of Spring - and the recognition of the United Nations World Water Day.

The event was sponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper (wwwbnriverkeeper.org)

As I view these photos that I took, I am again grateful for many things. 

1. That I live very close to this wonderful body of water that runs directly into the Niagara Falls.

2. That the United States and Canada , though different countries and governments, exist border to border in peace and harmony.  I wish that it could be so in every country in the world.

3. That whatever happens in our lives Mother Nature never fails us and quietly, gently continues with the process of the changing seasons, the migration of the animals and the budding of flowers that will soon be in full bloom. 

4. And that I continue to have the privilege of being a joyful witness to it all.

*****

The Waters

We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms - waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.

Now our minds are one.

  From Haudenosaunee - Words Before All Else