Saturday, December 29, 2012

Dark Nights

I wrote the poem below for a friend going through a difficult time.  I'm sharing it because I think it might have a more universal appeal...I know writing it comforted me.

It is not unusual for SpiritSpeak poems to utilize the term "we," as in this poem.  People ask who is "we?"  I don't have a ready answer other than the aspect of me that most identifies with Love thinks of herself as plural, rather than singular.  The closest image, and it is flawed, is of a team of guardian angels.  That's the best description I have at the moment.

If you are experiencing a dark period, assume this poem was written for you, with love.


As you sink into darkness and vision dims
While fear whispers with all its allure,
When tomorrow is more dreaded than today, and
Connections seem faded and illusory,
Can anything be gained, or regained?

While you sleep, we perch at the end of the bed
Watching you breathe,
Remembering, for you, your innocence.
Innocence is a terrifying thing to forget, or doubt.

To embark on a journey of self-evaluation
Without our guidance leads, inevitably, to the darkest of nights.
Your vision is so very different than ours,
With just enough overlapping truth to appear real, trustworthy.
Do you not know that we see and have always seen
Your weaknesses, your selfishness, your internal struggles,
Your expectations and demands?
Did you think all these years that you pursued us, and we you,
We were blind to your blindness? 

Precious child, perfection is your aim, not ours.
Perfection is your expectation, not ours.
There is no one within the realm of our care
That we honor more for her intention, her integrity, her effort.

We accept at this time, during this night,  that you mistrust us,
Doubt us, perhaps even disdain us.  We get it.
While you loosen your grasp on us, we hold fast to you,
Trusting you, loving you, knowing you, our friend.
We called to you so long ago, and you jumped with joy.
We will never forget.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

I pause...


I am the mother of a murdered child
I am the sister of the shooter
I am the cousin of the Principal
I am the wife of a policeman
I am the pastor of a Newtown church
I am the rabbi nearby
I am the remaining brother’s best friend
I am the parent of a surviving child, and the
Grandmother of the slain psychologist.

Some of us want to rid the country of guns
Some of us want to give a gun to everyone.
Some of us want more laws, and
Some want fewer laws.
Some of us think Jesus is the answer, and
Some think Jesus is the problem.
Some think the shooter was ill, and
Others think him wicked and evil.

Truth be told, I don’t know the truth.

And so, as mother, friend, sister, cousin, pastor and rabbi,
I pause.
I allow reality to sink in.
Without disputing the facts, I withhold judgment,
And pause.
Acknowledging the pain and bewilderment,
I pause.
Acknowledging the calls to action,
The clamoring for change,
I pause.
Eschewing passivity,
I pause.

Wisdom rarely shouts.