but all of life is always here, wherever we are

and we can still be pilgrims in our hearts.

 

Today we have a mountain in our living room to meditate upon.

Arunachala, of which Lord Shiva said,

“As the moon derives its light from the sun

so all holy places derive their light from this one.

For it is here that I have taken form.

This is the I the Holy Ohm, the Heart of the World, 

the place to which true pilgrims come.”

 

Can we hope to find this heart as we stay home?

What are these strange untimely days, 

if not a kind of pilgrimage.

A sacred solitary journey into the unknown, 

a vision quest where we are put to the test 

to see what we are made of.

 

Where we may find ourselves, so often lost.

Where we may meet other pilgrims as our paths may cross.

Yet still our deepest encounter is as ever with ourselves

 

Now at the Winter Solstice, we hold the point of stillness

balanced between dark and light 

before the world turns towards the light again. 

At this time the stars are finally aligned, 

as the Age of Aquarius dawns at last

as promised in the songs of the 70’s

(a dawning that well and truly took its time

before the starry dancers fell into rhythm and into line)

 

What of us? How will we dance? 

How will we live this time?

These coming days will be our pilgrim age

for we have a mountain yet to climb.

 

May we count our blessings and learn our lessons

May we each walk in a sacred way.

May we remember each other as we pray.   
                         Poem for Sunday Taize 20/12/20 

The comments about Ian and the nature sanctuary are heartwarming; well done Ian, your enthusiasm for this special building shines through.

“Can you share one of your poems at Taize?”

It seemed a simple task until I asked 

“What is the theme. He said “Forgiveness".

I had to say, “I don’t have a poem on Forgiveness 

But I said yes anyway

...maybe its time for me to write one

This set me wondering,

Why have I not written a poem on forgiveness yet?

Is this another cause for self recrimination or regret?

Is this a problem to be solved?

Does it mean I am not sufficiently evolved?

So I set myself a quest 

to contemplate forgiveness

What is that movement of forgiveness in the human heart?

How do we tend each wound and hurt?

Without becoming bitter, shut down or stuck in the past.

How do we “drop the knife” as Hafiz says

the knife whose blade is double edged

pointing at ‘the other’ yet piercing our own flesh.

How do we have compassion for the hurt that we have caused.

really seeing the other and feeling true remorse.

How do we sense the difference between guilt and regret

as Pema Chodron says 

where guilt is toxic and weighs heavy on the heart.

while regret means embracing our own tenderness 

How do we extend compassion to the one who hurt us?

knowing they are human just like us

knowing every action has its cause.

How do we forgive what we may not be able to forget?

I don’t know about you but I know that often I need help

Forgiveness doesn’t happen all at once.

It takes time. It happens day by day.

Sometimes it helps to pray

Give us this day how shall we live it?

Our daily bread who shall we share it with?

May we forgive each other and ourselves all of our trespasses

May we live on this Earth which is in Heaven. May we receive and share the gifts.

I have a Jewish friend who trained in medicine

hoping to ease the suffering of both sides in Palestine.

Before long he realised that he was simply helping people mend

so they could go and fight each other again.

He wanted to do something that would help them more

so he became a storyteller...believing this

would help us see our shared humanity

and put an end to the desire for revenge. 

I was so touched by this I wrote a song to bless his wish

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind

so how can we try to be more human kind

We all feel the pain that is the dying proof

Of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

So lets sit down together in this Once upon a time

tell me your story and I will tell you mine

Then you can see me and I can see you

There’ll be an I for an I and a truth for a truth.

then war must also begin with me

Beloved One, please help me

Where my mind holds conflict

may I calm my thoughts 

and welcome stillness

Where there is tension in my body

may I breathe light into every cell

and welcome healing

Where there is war in my heart

may I breathe forgiveness

and welcome peace

Where my soul is restless

may I remember love

and welcome grace

May I be love

may I be light

may I be forgiveness

may I be peace.

Amen