In Thunder and stone, The Commandment came... poem by Peter Menkin
To be set free
by stones:First Commandment:
Have no other Gods
but me.
Could the thunder
on Mount Sinai have
said something when
Moses came down?
I am your friend,
you are my people.
Did trumpets sound?
Light was there around
Moses.
Let me say the
words, Friend of God.
Living words.
Friday, June 22, 2007
The first of the Ten Commandments
A few years ago I began work on the Ten Commandments, which I have paid attention to as a series of Ten poems from time to time. One book I read on the subject of the Ten Commandments noted that the first set of ten brought down from the mountain were shattered and lost, gone in a way but also still available as spirit in the world. For some people, that may be too mystical, and I agree it is an unusual idea. But this first of the Ten Commandments, about which I write as a poem, is the actual First Commandment brought to the people of Israel. There is mystery about these Ten Commandments, for clear as they may be they are the subject of wonderful discussions.
An ambitious statement about God and our Relationship...
"A condensation of faith and belief. I wonder at 'visit' but accept that you feel this to be true. If I were to admit to faith I would see it as my task to visit the infinite." This note from the original posting of the poem in 2002 by another poet on The Atlantic Monthly Writer's Workshop is worth sharing. Though written in June of that year, I thought that the Epiphany is that we can know God, in many ways. One is through prayer, but mostly it is about seeking God. It seems I have spent most of my adult life, and even my childhood, interested in God. It wasn't until later in my life that I came closer, at least I feel that way.
Of course, it is unlikely, to say the least, that any of us will know the God through Christ in a way that Moses did as he was a friend of God. And a receiver of great, historical things from God for the good of mankind. What I am saying, is that the greatness of the figure in religious history is a greatness that points our way to this God, and it is a sense of the vast immensity of God that helps. Wisdom is knowing the fear of the Lord. So the saying goes, and I believe it.
Here I want to help point the way to God through this poem. Many times a poem says something better than a series of sentences. Hopefully, this is true here. Nonetheless, while I have your attention I want to introduce you to a book by Thomas Merton that helps in the same regard of finding God, but also leads a way to humility. For when we seek God, a way to know we are obtaining a knowledge of him, is through humility. The book, "Thoughts in Solitude" says this about faith:
"First, let us be sure that we know what we are doing. Faith alone can give us the light to see that God's will is to be found in our everyday life. Without this light, we cannot see to make the right decisions. Without this certitude we cannot have supernatural confidence and peace. We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen.
"To keep ourselves spiritualy alive we must constantly renew our faith."
Another quote:
"Humility sets us free to do what is really good, by showing us our illusions and withdrawing our will from what was only an apparent good."
Many figures in the Bible have sought God. The more memorable of all is Moses, at least in this poem about the great friend to God. In a moment, I will post the poem, which is some years old--not so old, though. First, a short exchange that was posted on The Atlantic Monthly site when the poem was first given to be read. The exchange describes the poem and makes a humorous remark about wishing to visit with the infinite.
Peter
(This poem is...) A condensation of faith and belief. I wonder at 'visit' (in the text), but accept that you feel this to be true. If I were to admit to faith I would see it as my task to visit the infinite.
Janet
Janet
Thank you for your thoughtful note. I was thinking a visit would be just fine.
Peter
Words seeking prayer by Peter Menkin - Apr 26, 2002 Moses’ face shone
when he met with God
on the mountain.
Inner light, transforming
vastness of history,
you God love us.
The I AM.
Come visit us with your
immensity and allow
us the work of prayer
to speak with
and know you, too.
