Psalm 56: A Prose Poem

For those far removed from the reassuring comfort of the Divine.

 

As the alarm clock blares, I turn over, pull the duvet over my head, and pull my knees to my chest. I try to hide, but the condemning voices echo inside my mind. O Spirit within, I feel defeated; chase them away! I trust in You! I will not be afraid! They are only voices inside my head!

 

As I move through the day, each silent moment is a danger—the voices threatening to rise again. Even worse is the misplaced, innocent word of my neighbour, confirming the horror within. This world will be the ruin of me! O Spirit within, bring calm! Bring peace!

 

Back in bed, I toss and I turn. My pillow soaks up my tears, catching the dirt and grime of another battle-filled day. Oh the secrets this bedroom holds, hearing each scream and cry. O Spirit within, I call You forth: be my rock amidst these crashing waves. You are truth. You are life. You are truth. You are life. I trust in You! I will not be afraid! This pain is only for the moment—this moment of existence. This too will pass.

 

O Spirit within, I give You my all—this pain and these tears, the voices of death both within and outwith. O Spirit within, fill all of me with Your goodness, Your kindness, Your beauty and joy. You’ve delivered before, now do it again. O Spirit within, bring me from death into life. 

Psalm 119.96: The Perfectionist

My God described as all perfect,

Now manifest in Christ the Son.

Ourselves we find ‘Perfect’ infects;

Portray ourselves as holy ones.

Why must we wait for perfection divine?

Psalm 93: Order out of Chaos

The waves of chaos crash within me—

Fear!—

The Creator holds all in hope;

Silence calms the storm.

 

The waves of chaos crash within me—

Anger!—

The Redeemer holds all in love;

Joy calms the storm.

 

The waves of chaos crash within me—

Sorrow!—

The Sustainer holds all in faith;

Beauty calms the storm.

Psalm 123: A Plea for Our Time

A prayer for coming into the presence of the Divine

 

I offer you my undivided attention, 

     O magnificent Being who transcends our measurable universe!

As one who is parched gives

     oneself over to newfound water,

As one who is famished gives

     oneself over to newfound nourishment,

So we offer our entire being to the Great I AM,

     until the Divine brings relief.

 

Bring relief to us, Great I AM, bring relief,

     for we are weighed down by the troubles of existence.

Our inner most beings are weighed down

     by pain and suffering,

     by the troubles of existence.

Psalm 114: Theophany

In search of the Divine,

he journeyed to the wilderness,

away from cement and exhaust.

The mountains towered before him;

the sea expanded to his left.

Upon his knees he pleaded.

Darkness circled round about him.

The hills danced in each flash of light.

The sea receded to his left.

The trembling of the Earth, it filled him,

matching the pounding of his heart.

In the presence of such power, 

face to the ground he fell.

When Sun and peace returned again, 

a smile crossed his face.

With misty mountains to his right 

and rosy horizon before him,

‘Sweet rapture,’ he whispered.

The divine brimming over with delight.

Listening in the Space In-Between

In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? John 14.2

In my Father’s house

Not only my Father

But your Father too

For you are in me

And I am in you

You are his adopted

Beloved

With whom he is pleased

There are many rooms

There is not only one room

Duplicated again and again

You are consumed with comparisons

Why does she get this

But you do not

Let go of the other

And cling to your Father

His love for you is unique

One-of-a-kind

For you are you and not her

There is a room for you

And it is yours alone

If it were not so

Why do you doubt

Oh you of little faith

When I have calmed your storms

And carried you

When you could not walk

Not only am I the truth

But I am the good

Good shepherd

Revealing our Father’s love

Do not doubt

Only believe

I have told you

You are my sister

You are my friend

With whom I share myself

All that is mine is yours

All that is yours is mine

Share with me your tears

And I will shower you with

My Joy

I go

But I will be back

You must not cling to me

Here and now

If you do not let me go

You cannot follow me

For I go before you

A light upon the path

To prepare a place for you

Your place

The place I am preparing

Just for you

It is a unique gift

A unique grace

Of our Father’s

And it is yours

His beloved

Upon whom he smiles

i couldn't hear so i tried to write

all communication is an act of interpretation

trust is essential for communication to succeed

god’s word transmitted without body language or tone of voice

giving the text an author imposes a limit and closes the writing

trust is essential for communication to succeed

tell us if there is an author in this text?

giving the text an author imposes a limit and closes the writing

the twenty-first century is the age of the dislocated symbol

tell us if there is an author in this text?

presence and absence is displaced by pattern and randomness

the twenty-first century is the age of the dislocated symbol

sentences distilled to the precision of mathematical equations

presence and absence is displaced by pattern and randomness

at the edge of time when storytelling becomes impossible

sentences distilled to the precision of mathematical equations

what?—speak louder/articulate more clearly/that's preposterous

at the edge of time when storytelling becomes impossible

a love letter sent by post or email still speaks of love

what?—speak louder/articulate more clearly/that's preposterous

when divided by an ocean the written word sustains

a love letter sent by post or email still speaks of love

all communication is an act of interpretation

when divided by an ocean the written word sustains

god’s word transmitted without body language or tone of voice