winter longing for the Light
so concentrated
it became so poor, empty of self
that the winter roots sprouted wings
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
—Matthew 5:1-3
Continue reading Poor in Spirit
We are blessed by this rain in California giving some relief to the drought.
“For God, the living God, I thirst, like dew upon the fleece come down, like rain upon the desert sand, like light into a darkened room. As parched earth breaks for need of rain so my heart breaks but not in vain. When wilt thou on my vision burst? For thee my living God I thirst.”
– hymn, Sicut Cervus, Sister Frances Clare
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
He refreshes my soul.”
Continue reading He Refreshes My Soul
“I weave your name on the loom of my mind.
To make my garment when you come to me.
My loom has ten thousand threads
To make my garment when you come to me.
The sun and moon watch while I weave your name.
These are the wages I get by day and night
To deposit in the lotus bank of my heart.I weave your name on the loom of my mind
To clean and soften ten thousand threads
And to comb the twists and knots of my thoughts.
No more shall I weave a garment of pain.
For you have come to me, drawn by my weaving,
Ceaselessly weaving your name on the loom of my mind.”-Kabir in “God Makes the Rivers to Flow” edited by Eknath Easwaran
Continue reading Weaver of Love and Harmony
held above by the heavens of infinity
rooted below by Mother Earth
this tree seems to be longing to unite both heaven and earth
like a bridge or conduit
in the state of be-long-ing
some parts of it wanting to touch the sky
and another part
wanting to return to its roots from which it came
love roots
and sky roots
both home
remembering from where it came
There are so many gifts
Still unopened from your birthday,
There are so many hand-crafted presents
That have been sent to you by God.
Continue reading So Many Gifts
I’ve never seen a spider web
with a heart space in the middle
of what a soul might desire
spaciousness
freedom
stillness
emptiness yet fullness
empty of preconceptions
emptiness
empty of what (a separate existence)
clear of clutter
room for Divine
space to breathe
“Be thirsty heart,
seek forever without a rest.
Let this soundless longing
hidden deep inside you
be the source
of every word you say.
The time has come to turn your heart
into a temple of fire.
Your essence is gold hidden in dust.
To reveal its splendor
you need to burn in the fire of love.”
–Rumi, quatrains 1010, 1116, Kolin and Mofi translation
