after all hallows eve &
all saints, all souls
i admit my longing for
slowing, resting.
i name my dreams
and groan in prayer.
"i sense an invitation
in this season."
toss and turn
grab the remote
recheck
the vote count
the headlines
recheck
the heartaches
recheck
reality
lost hopes, now hallowed:
the mighty remain mighty
although their optics
are all off.
tyrants turn
themselves
inside out,
shed skins &
expose plots.
there is a message
in the faces
of those who do not see
the mess we are in.
who was succumb
to the fierce
pace of restlessness?
who was slave
to the demands
of the din?
was it me?
is this a time
for lamenting?
is this a season
for repenting?
under the dark sky
in late afternoon
i look for little
illuminations.
Spirit — she sneaks,
whispers:
"be thoughtful,
be careful,
now is the time
for deepening."
when i am
underground
i must accept
the pressure
the weight
the darkness.
the risk of
mystery:
no maps
no menus
no certainty.
swimming in deep water
takes strength, energy
constant attention
to breath
to movement
to surroundings.
depth, though, reveals
glowing wonders
like flaming altars
and secret cathedrals
in holy places
there are holy answers
in the depth:
trust
love
truth
hope
plus fresh
opportunity.
invitation
accepted.
The book of Revelation is a profound example of resistance literature. The author, a disciple named John, is responding to a crisis: the severe persecution of the Church in the late first century. He himself is in exile, in Patmos, a Roman penal colony and island located between Greece and Turkey. The vision John receives and…
Soon after I turned 24 last winter, I went on a weekend hermitage. I stayed in a solitary cabin in rural Illinois, remote and full of bare trees, ice, quick, glittery sunsets and freezing temps at a retreat center, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph. My first day there, I spent a long afternoon…
Every ordinary day, I am reminded that I am weak and desperately need God. When I forget the birthday of someone dear to me, when I lose my keys, when irritation and anger bubble up in my heart–each experience of imperfection can block my trust in God. I am tempted to think I am worthless…
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me,…
Happy Thanksgiving! During this time when we pause to give thanks in the USA, I take this Scripture seriously: In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. –1 Thessalonians 5:18 But, the truth is, gratitude is only some of what is stirring in my heart. I…
As summer winds down and school years begin, we still find ourselves in Ordinary Time. Officially, Ordinary Time received its name because these days are ordinal, that is, they are numbered. At Mass on Sundays, you will often hear the priest say that it is the Sunday of such-and-such a week in Ordinary Time. All…
You must log in to post a comment.