What the Trees Said – Our Bellies
We have missed you
stepping lightly
patting our
bellies
soft
small palms
leaning
into us
when you
are weary.
What I know of the divine sciences and the Holy Scriptures,
I have learned in woods and fields. I have no other masters
than the beeches and the oaks. Bernard of Clairvaux
Posted in Contemplation, prayer, Nature, Spiritual Practices
Tagged Bernard of Clairvaux, nature, poetry, Prayer, spiritual practice, spirituality and nature, Trees
Know your roots.
Pull up a few.
See those sallow
rangy threads
sinewy cords
thick as your arm
splintering stone
slurping up existence quenching
your
thirst?
__________________________
I am tangled up in heritage and ancestor – those tough ties to blood, tribe, family, and gene – running through scripture and ancient traditions like twisting roots.
Long scattered to dust, hidden, yet flowing through our veins,
tenacious forebears animate our lives. I can hear them, stocks of gnarled and tangled cheerleaders, waving stringy fingers, scrabbling, murmuring
Stop slouching and grow for pity’s sake!
________________
Do you know where you came from and who is still feeding your soul?
After writing this post I came across this passage from Isaiah, translated poetically by David Rosenberg, author of the masterful, A Poet’s Bible, Rediscovering the Voices of the Original Text.
I brought up children
held them in my presence
and they turn from medeaf and blind
when even the dumb ox knows
who holds his foodan ass
the trough
the master fillsbut Israel knows nothing
of its root in me
sees nothing of wherethey come from . . .
Isaiah Chapter 1, Translation by David Rosenberg
Last night coyote,
whose mother
raven said
was hit
on the highway,
turned himself
three times
scratched
sank
midst the gnarled
knees
of grandfather oak
tucked his face
beneath his tail
and slept til dawn
May we all find among the trees resting places for our sorrow.
Go out among trees today.
Posted in contemplation, Prayer, Spiritual Practices, spirituality
Tagged coyote, Grief, healing, nature, nature and prayer, poetry, sorrow, Trees
Give up.
Stop fixing,
yearning,
grasping.
As I am in you be
in me.
This effort
to separate
distinguish
yourself
is so
hard
on you.
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Galations 5: 1, NEB
I am off to spend some time listening to trees. Perhaps I will bring back messages. In the meantime, you might consider what you are trying to fix, hanging onto, or hungering after, that, in truth, you have already been set free from, or possess in great fullness. At least that is what I aim to do.
Posted in Contemplation, prayer, Prayer, Sabbath
Tagged let go, prayer and nature, Religion and Spirituality, Trees
The Praying Life 