A HIGH BLUE DAY ON SCALPAYThis is the summit of contemplation, and no art can touch itblue, so blue, the far-out archipelago and the sea shimmering, shimmeringno art can touch it, the mind can only try to become attuned to it to become quiet and space itself out, to become open and still, unworldedknowing itselfContinue reading “Scalpay – Outer Hebrides”
Tag Archives: Hope
“It will be spring soon, It will be spring soon-“
The words above “It will be spring soon, It will be spring soon-” seemed to shout to me this morning as I turned a few pages. They come from the middle of a poem by Philip Larkin entitled Coming. The poem itself doesn’t say much about spring or hope so I will settle for theseContinue reading ““It will be spring soon, It will be spring soon-“”
“I wish we never had to wish”
Earlier this week I stood in line to cast my “vote” in early voting. The line was long, stretching outside of my local library. Once inside the library, the line wrapped around the perimeter of the book shelves. I felt fortunate that as I passed the shelves for preordered books there was one with myContinue reading ““I wish we never had to wish””
We calculate the outsides of all things,
It is sometimes said that vision is more important than sight. In other words, although we see things we lack “vision” to see the real possibility. Sometimes we busy ourselves calculating the outside of things, never bothering to truly measure or imagine what might be below the surface if only we could ponder longer orContinue reading “We calculate the outsides of all things,”
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 shortContinue reading “Suddenly”
Why is the sky so tall…?
As children we have all drawn the sky. We have painted the top half of a page blue and the bottom half green and in between we have squeezed people, or buildings, or things, or everything! Some days we forget the sky is there, at times reminded only by the amazing colors of a sunriseContinue reading “Why is the sky so tall…?”
“Stop all the clocks…”
The image above is from the 1994 movie, Four Weddings and a Funeral. The actor John Hannah plays Matthew, whose love and partner in the movie was Gareth. He used the words of W.H. Auden’s poem “Funeral Blues” at Gareth’s funeral. The poem expresses the devastation of grief. Carried throughout its lines is pessimism andContinue reading ““Stop all the clocks…””
Repetition!
The poem by Dylan Thomas – “Do Not go gentle into that good night” is a strong protest against death, even a denial of it! Thomas conveys a sense that life is for living, it is all there is, and as such life needs to be lived without hesitation, without regret, without any sense ofContinue reading “Repetition!”
A little while after!
In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, we read of the journey of the wisemen from the east. When they actually arrived is not known, but we should not be surprised to learn that it may well have been some days or many weeks after the birth of the child. However, let us not fuss about theContinue reading “A little while after!”
“Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,”
Bethlehem, in the West Bank, remains a difficult place to get to. I recall being searched by armed Israeli police and having my passport scrutinized before being allowed to proceed to the Church of the Nativity. The photo above shows not a manger but a chaotic presence of a border wall which surrounds Bethlehem. ThisContinue reading ““Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,””
Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings 