Suddenly

                 We lie back to back. Curtains
                 lift and fall,
                 like the chest of someone sleeping. 
                 Wind moves the leaves of the box elder; 
                 they show their light undersides,
                 turning all at once
                 like a school of fish. 
                 Suddenly I understand that I am happy. 
                 For months this feeling 
                 has been coming closer, stopping
                 for short visits, like a timid suitor.
                                         Jane Kenyon 1947-1995

This is such a beautiful, sad, and happy poem! All these things can be true at once!
This poem was written months before she died at age 47, from leukemia. Like so many poets, she wrestled with depression. Kenyon would certainly be one of those “tortured poets” as Taylor Swift references in her album Tortured Poets Department! Amidst her depression Kenyon is quick to mention those sudden moments of happiness. In our tortured world we need those moments of happiness, no matter how fleeting or how suddenly they appear. I hope your day has had some of those moments of happiness and your tomorrow and the days following, also have them. Together, let us be more aware of them that we might savor and share them with those around us. The writer of the psalms knew much about sudden happiness and long periods of deep despair. Take a moment to read Psalm 116 and you will find there not just despair but words and a song of hope. In this psalm you find these words – “I love the Lord, for God heard my voice and my cry for mercy. God turned God’s ear to me. In my dismay I said all are liars. I was overcome by trouble and sorrow, then I called upon the Lord. Our God is full of compassion.”

Prayer:
O Holy and compassionate Lord,
you hear our cries for mercy.
You turn your ear toward us.
You, O Holy Lord,
deliver our souls from death,
our eyes from tears,
and our feet from stumbling.
You walk alongside us not measuring
the distance, or grading the difficulty.
You walk with words of love and mercy,
forgiveness and encouragement.
We pray to you as long as we live.
Hear this our prayer and come to our aid. Amen.