Mercy Flows

Mercy flows

Down through the streams of earth;

Mercy flows

Through the warp and weft of our being

Through our breathing

Our breathing in and out.

Mercy flows

Through our laughter,

Brittle as crystal,

Robust as flesh

(Hearts that can break and heal,

Hearts that replenish)

And through our tears

(Acid or clear pure water).

Mercy flows

Through touch that is reverent, gentle,

Touch that is holy,

Touch that touches us

Down in the secret places.

Mercy flows

Through words grace-chosen

Shaped with a jeweller’s care

For precision healing,

Gentle as mercy’s self.

Mercy flows

From the stars in icy glory,

The life-burn of the sun,

White-opal moon,

And shadows under trees.

Mercy flows

From mercy’s self,

Holding all aspirations

In one transcendent love.

Mercy flows

From mercy unto mercy

Breaking us,

In order to replenish and to heal.

Mercy flows.

Come!

The door is standing open,

Come, Holy Spirit come!

Bread of my heart here broken

For you, and locks undone.

Here, in the chrismed silence,

I wait your slightest word

To silence my heart’s chatter

(Profundities absurd.)

These bones that creak their dryness:

Bid them arise and sing,

Sing of the love that made them,

Blessing through everything.

Undo my false assumptions,

Shatter timidity,

Weave ragged threads with mercy

Until I can stand free.

O Let us Sing of Turtles

O let us sing of turtles

That flourish in the deep

And rise like ships of wonder,

Bring joy-dreams to our sleep.

O let us sing of turtles

With wisdom in their beak

Complete within their silence

Amazing if they speak.

O let us sing of turtles

O let us dance and sing

And open up our living hearts

To joy in everything.

O let us sing of turtles

Who glide green through the sea

For they have added magic

To the world of you and me.

Chaos theory

They say,

(Or so I am told)

That the tiny flapping

Of the wings of a butterfly,

Somewhere in the Amazon,

Leads to the mighty chaos

Of a wild tornado.

But when I see a butterfly

Move like a blossom’s heartbeat

I see all chaos

Resolved into a moment’s beauty,

Light quivering.

The Rejected

She pulled her old coat tighter around her as she stood there in the bitter rain. Through the window, misted with rain and her breath, she could see them inside, warm and dry, seated at long tables laden with food and drink. She so badly wanted to be inside, but she did not dare. She remembered the times she had tried before, different rooms but the same sort of scene. She had stood there, forlorn, alongside the diners, but they had crowded up together and refused to make room for her. Once or twice, in those painful memories, she had dared to take a vacant seat, unnoticed until she reached out for food. Then they had turned on her. Who did she think that she was? What made her imagine she had any right to be there? She had no answers, and under their onslaught she had retreated outside where only the darkness could see her tears.

Why would it be any different this time? But she had to try, she was so, so hungry! Her wet, trembling fingers could hardly turn the door knob, but desperation drove her. Timidly she crept into the room and stood against the wall, taking in the scene. At least it wasn't raining here, but as she looked at these warm, well-dressed people, she realised how bedraggled and unkempt she looked by comparison. Who would want to sit next to her? At the nearer end of the room there was a table with several empty seats. If she sat down at the end, surely no one would mind? At least she could rest her legs, and there would be just a little food within reach.

But just as she reached that forgotten seat, there was a commotion at the other end of the table. A man was rising from his place and walking towards her. Was she going to be thrown out again?. But no, he was smiling at her like no one had ever smiled at her before. "Come with me," he said, "you belong up here." Too astonished to protest, she let him take her by the arm and lead her to the seat next to his own. Only then did she notice that his chair was a throne. And as she sat down beside him, he tenderly reached across and wiped the tears from her eyes.