Looking towards Holy Week: a statement on Love of God
What to label this poem, posted in time for Holy Week? The poem, written in 2001 is about reverence, Christ, and Love of God. In my Church we give one another The Peace of the Lord. Many people have known this peace. The love of Christ is like it, a special peace.
Prayer inviting quiet inner space...(2001)
by Peter Menkin
In desire for the Lord, I look
at my book of Year One now past to find
Saturday and I confess my notes O God,
in preparation for Sunday,
never failing providence I copied,
these words to speak with my lips:
I confess You, One God
ordereth all things both in heaven
and earth: good words to set ones
heart to pray we humbly beseech
thee to put away from us all hurtful
things and to give us those things
which are profitable for us. This
gift offers, let my words speak in praise
to request, beseeching and to give us
those things restoring us to life;
for we are like grass, and my love
a life-giving way undertaken reverently
to be mindful of You, through Jesus Christ
our Lord; to reflect on any quiet inner space
in which to listen to the Word, living
in communion and journeying on.
Let us never forget this presence so I shall
lest through carelessness fall away from
the love of God and cease listening
and reading to know the generosity of God
resplendent; in goodness as to add my
words to the innumerable and wonderful.
I am sure you are familiar with the prodigal son. A story as much about the son who wastes part of his life, and then returns to the father who is good and kind. Who forgives him and celebrates his return. This is a story about God's promise and His goodness. There is also the brother, who is surprised by the brother's return and resents the celebration and acceptance after his brother's prodigal life.
"A Call to the Lord's Table"
by Peter Menkin
This lost sheep needs to
be taken home again, Lord.
In music I and we call you.
In song we sing a beckoning.
Play on piano, organ, voice.
Facing God
and facing
ourselves:
the unknown
Shadow
When Lent comes we face God and examine ourselves, turning towards the shadow side which is that side of us that has fears, hungers, selfish desires, even desires like aggression and hatefulness. What thoughts go through one's mind. There is also the darkness of life, the unknown that is out there, the fear of what is beyond the campfire. Sounds like a cliche, but we all know it. This poem talks in its brief words about that darkness, and even the Shadow that is in our self.
What darkness... by Peter Menkin
What is, enter into
the darkness place;
what blackness ahead.
Light torches, flames
bright. Across the water
there is light--we know.
Harmony of seasons turning, towards Spring in February
by Peter Menkin
The February rains come down,
light weight upon the land
bringing sparkle, refreshment
needed this season. The clarity
in the air juxtaposes against
the turn of season towards Spring
as the feelings and signs awaken
the sleeper in me, saying arise.
Yield I must to the rhythm of earth,
desiring an open heart to mercy
for others. This rain refreshes
and aids the call to live; be
swift my mind and intellect, gain
the harmony of good weather, a gift
for us this returning and renewal.
My poem is about a spiritual teacher named Thich Nhat Hanh, the result of reading a book of his writings.
As you may know, I am an Oblate of Camaldoli, a monastic order interested in the meditative and contemplative practices of Buddhism. It is a Christian monastic community, Catholic by denomation. Like my monastic friends, I am a Benedictine. My affiliation is as an Anglican, since I am an Episcopalian and we are Anglicans. It is a charism of friendship. The monks of the Camaldoli order are contemplatives, and have been for hundreds of years. Oblates take a vow of living a monastic life in the world--as their situation allows. At least, we Camaldolese do who are members of the Order of St. Benedict. We endeavor to live our lives by The Rule of St. Benedict.
There is a monastery, informally known as New Camaldoli, in Big Sur, California USA. Its formal name is Immaculate Heart Hermitage. I visit there and go to retreats. So you can guess I share their interests, including their interest in the West-East dialogue, also called Christian-Buddhist. Granted, I am casually interested, whereas the monks are seriously interested. This poem represents some of my reading of Bhuddist thought, but mainly it represents my admiration and respect for a spiritual leader who is a Buddhist.
Reading Buddhist Thought... by Peter Menkin
The present is a place,
so I read. Buddhist thought
tells me, between the past and the future
is the place present. Be mindful,
keep good thoughts
--not so easy a thing.
Spiritual teachers like
Thich Nhat Hanh offer
reverence.
"Learn lessons from the cloud."
"Tomorrow I'll be gone..."
he says, so I read.
Me, too.
Between he and I,
through the pages
there is his voice.
We wonder about faith.
Is there something
for the Christian in this Buddhist
thought?
In Church, the Priest
washes his hands before
celebrating. The Buddhist
says clean hands to gain
the truth.
A little style of his words,
adapted to life
as I know it. The man in the book
is generous. Peace.
