The unseen connection that makes me a soul,
Seems concealed, and hidden,
while earthly things shines neon brightly, self-clanging wares,
full of promise to improve a life, immediately, for a second. Then …
make mine measured based on how many I collect.
“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews
The following poem is a code-breaking poem from the life of Violette Szabo. She used it transmit messages when undercover in France during WW2. She was an agent for Allied forces in WW2 who after being caught, tortured and sexually assaulted, was executed at Ravensbruk Concentration Camp.
The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours.
The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.
A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause.
For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.
Written by Leo Marks
“The Father will honor whoever serves me”
Gospel of John
I leave her behind now, sad faced and crying
On a lonely road, alone, without me.
She scuffs along, lingering in past moments and places,
savoring shadows and refreshing desires.
While I move on to new pastures; unsure; but not looking back at all.
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Gospel of Matthew
I AM a firework, all set to go off today,
Sometimes a small pathetic display of emotion,
but other times,
full on love with colored streaks of light,
piercing a dark sky,
made darker by my impression,
shouting and screaming my message of …
Look at me. Listen to me. See me. Notice me.
Fireworks come in many forms,
And when expressed in single characters,
miraculously bottled into words,
they emerge, either beautiful or triumphant,
Sometimes both,
Into images that fly across peoples mind,
with my intent or their reflection,
left as indelible marks on their soul.
We walk towards the light,
Assuming darkness does not contain
whatever reason is looking for.
And we discover,
That that the light is within us, His infinite light and that reason is darkness.
“It does indeed flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit.”
Book of Numbers
Like electricity charging through my body,
I am awakened and alarmed,
Simultaneously,
This time it is beyond awareness.
It is the call to come home.
“While he was praying his face changed in appearance”
Gospel of Luke
Just settled in and we are taxiing along in readiness for takeoff.
Suddenly, I ask the purpose of the trip,
and find that I am heading to Jordan and Egypt for a parachute jump!
What made me get on this plane without checking, I cannot leave.
Then, waking, I am relieved to find the airplane left without me.
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Gospel of Matthew
Instant gratification or the desire for immediate pleasure
Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge
“I don’t have the patience for it”
Sadly sums up much of an earlier life
Let me now embrace humility and love and gain … everything.
“one’s life does not consist of possessions”
Gospel of Luke
Cycling through my life, I see,
Flat tires of distractions,
and that wondrous moment, gazing from the top of a climbed hill,
and notice all things given to us need maintenance.
Note to self: add time freewheeling downhill to recharge.
“The earth has yielded its fruits;”
Psalm 67
Old style handlebars, the hand painted bike,
Dropped ungracefully as a child, but well worn, by many.
A late Saturday summer afternoon, I visited the Cleverley’s bike store with dad,
and later, with much discussion, the shiny new Raleigh was mine, with gears!
Next day-ridden miles proudly to Mass; all gears and brakes. I was a king!
“On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.”
Book of Leviticus
The Monastery Within 