Tuesday, October 25, 2011

We are mighty rivers (Sunday, October 23, 2011)


The important thing for rivers—
those in the world, and those within our souls—
is to keep on flowing.
We must not dam the torrents of anger we feel
in the face of the iniquities of this world.
We must not dam—or allow others to dam—
the flowing currents of our own creativity and wisdom.
That place where our own rivers meet
the great sea of life may be downstream yet—
perhaps more miles downstream than we really
want to think about—but that great sea whose name is Compassion
is there. And it is waiting for each of us to arrive.


We are not worthless creatures, bound to sin.
We are not but numbers in a ledger,
defined by our consumption; hypnotized into inaction
by the baubles and trappings of an age that is dying.
We are mighty rivers, each one of us.
We are flowing rivers—steadily, surely, cutting our own channel
through this oftentimes hard earth of selfishness and greed,
prejudice and fear.
We are rivers, flowing, refreshing again
the parched, dry ground of our times.
We are mighty rivers of constantly transforming,
living, breathing waters.
And we have come a long way from our Source;
and we still have far to go before we reach our sea.


jbs
6/9/91          5/29/05          10/23/11

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Joy of Waking (Sunday, October 16, 2011)


The Joy of Waking

Sometimes I yearn for sleep and rest,
times alone on some deserted shore;
 when all the actions fade, all chores are done,
are done, all responsibilities handed on
for others to take care of.

But I know that time will come at last,
when there will be unending sleep,
rest eternal, and nothing but time
to contemplate in wonder
all that I have done and been and loved.

So for now, the yearning must give way
for greater joys of rising to greet the day;
of seizing time and making it my own,
binding all the ties of love and work and home
into one coherent masterwork eyes can see.

And if there’s never time enough to do it all,
 I have lived; I have been part
of this holy, earthly symphony
whose tune is Life, whose joy is now,
whose greatest call is not to stop ‘til day is done.

jbs

9/6/00          1/24/10          10/16/11

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Joy Awaits (Sunday, October 9, 2011)


The lightest touch can bless us,
the smallest smile;
I have found as much joy in
the subtle hill across the way
as from any Everests I have climbed.


Joy awaits our approach,
our eager apprehension.
For joy to live, we must be
engaged with life, and fully open
our hearts to joy.


That means keeping the fire
of Spirit burning in the abode of our hearts;
that means making a place at our hearth
for Joy to abide,
at the very center of our existence.


Kindle the fires of joy, then;
let them burn within you; pour over them
the living fuel of your love,
your wonder, and your faith;
kindle them until the fires cascade,
and make light and warm your world.


Let the fire burn, untended,
and it will light the way to a heaven
more wondrous than you
could ever dream; a heaven there,
waiting, in the simple, daily joys and duties
you have before you now.



jbs
5/6/03          3/19/06          10/9/11