A timid child in a fearful place
afraid of the world, with a hidden face,
surrounded by strangers and possible pain,
wanting nothing more than home again;
imagine the touch of a gentle hand,
a loving look, a promised land.

Thus almighty God, the infinite power,
comes as gentle lamb in the weeping hour.

-HJ July 19, 2009

 

My head a pathetic fogginess that I can hardly see through,
not wanting to waste the opportunity of solitude,
I strain to focus,
chart my course through cloud to clarity,
longing for truth to declare itself,
and hoping I'm able to receive it.

Though a seeker of truth
I'm a lover of learning,
Love words, but not the speaking of them.
When spoken they are lost, gone from me.

Pure truth, let fall one crystalline sparkling drop,
distill my muddy mental waters;

Pure beauty, but a glimpse I ask,
one quick clear vision;

Pure love, if I could hold for one mere second
just a corner of your hem;

Evermore remembrance
could keep me on the road.

-HJ July 19, 2009

 

The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures.
-Amazing Grace by John Newton

 

'Become what you already are,

find Him who is already yours,

listen to Him who never ceases speaking to you,

own Him who already owns you'.

By St Gregory of Sinai (13th Century)
*********************************************************

It's a dry and thirsty land and the sun beats down
on our aching heads. Tears and sweat abound.
And we long for shade and we long for rest
and we long for peace like a sparrow for its nest.
We are strangers here; we do not belong.
And we long to fly, but gravity's too strong.
So we wonder why we are stranded here
when our longings show us a grander sphere.
So we struggle on with our heavy load
(for some it's their body, this earthy abode,
for others their mind and the way it's wired,
or a sadness so deep they feel permanently mired).
Whatever our burden, we bear what we must
and help others bear until we all turn to dust.
Then the dust turns to the new life we sought all along:
You only long for the peace to which you belong.
-HJ July 12, 2009

 

Potato in Bloom

There is spinach, kale and lettuce in the garden, fresh today.
Red radishes and sorrel join the edible bouquet.
The green beans are in bud, broccoli holds a small tight head,
Swiss chard waves its bright-veined leaves, green tomatoes promise red.
The carrots almost fingerlings, potatoes now in bloom:
Stir fry, soup and salad from the garden to dining room.