Welcome

Primitive religion is not believed, it is danced!

Arthur Darby Nock

Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
And only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Browning



Sunday, April 12, 2020

Hanging in the Garden


“Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts.”
Elizabeth Elliot

“...sitting and waiting is one of the most miserable occupations known to man - not that it usually is known to men; women do it much more often.”
Diana Gabaldon
_________________________________

it was a day of waiting
that Sabbath Saturday

the day after the day
the death after the death

men and women who loved
and had seen the beloved
beaten and killed,

waiting

unable to visit the tomb
unable to pour out the oil of their grief
on the body that lay
cold and alone

men and women waiting
that long dark day
for the moment when the sun would rise
on their grief

and they could make the journey
to the garden

how did they wait?
did the men pace, and find thing to fix?
did the women gather together
comforting each other
through word, or touch?

Did they all grieve together
or were they separated
by distance
or fear
or social norms

we know nothing of that Sabbath
except that it must have been full of pain
the pain of loss
the pain of separation

that same pain felt by those who cannot be
with their dying one’s their dead ones
in this time of pandemic

we know only of the first day of the week
when they found their way
to that fresh tomb
sealed and guarded

why was it that the men found only an empty tomb
and the women
at least one woman
found Jesus?

was it because the men came,
and quickly left, troubled and confused,
while Mary (and perhaps other women too)
waited

long enough to see

is this why the first Easter Sermon
was given by Mary Magdalene?

Ah, blessed are those
who mourn for they shall be comforted
Ah, blessed are those who wait upon the Lord
Ah, blessed are those who are willing to sit with the pain
And be broken open

Women and men alike
For theirs is the kingdom of God

No comments:

Post a Comment