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The Wilderness




Another brand new piece (hence its not in the new book), this time flowing from both the liturgical, season, the place we find ourselves in globally and the particular season that Sally and I find ourselves in at present. Wilderness is a repeated Biblical theme, ranging from the experience of the people of Israel in their Exodus from Egypt, through to Jesus' period of preparatory testing, and other individuals in between. It is portrayed as both a place of escape and of trial. It prompts some to look back longingly to slavery, others to wish for death, whilst the Psalmist seems to pine for it and the reliance on God it required. Physically I love wilderness spaces, but thats because I know I am only a visitor. But ending up there emotionally with no assurance of an imminent entry into a "Promised Land" is not my favourite experience. 
Ironically Bono and I have both drawn on the same source for our inspiration, namely Richard Rohr's "The Tears of Things." However, I suspect that U2 will get more hits on their song than my poem!

Summoned, sent, driven, dragged.
How did I end up in this howling waste?
What is holy in this hollowed out space?
In a place of tears, where they refuse to flow.

A time of endings or beginnings?
Of callous culling and cynical exploitation,
Or clearing the ground after harvest
In the hope of lenten growth.

Be it individual, institution, or nation,
Nothing is forever, nothing is secure.
Grief is our shared inheritance.
Deny, rage, plead, weep, and shrug.

Mourning must move on from the anger,
Through the tears, to find on the other side
That uncommon, common compassion,
That seeks mercy in place of judgement.

Then stones will become enduring manna,
We will see the divine in the everyday
Rather than seeking the spectacular
And knees will bow in due time.
Selah
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