The Silent Voice of the Spirit

Easter brings a time of reflection on what the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus means to us who are part of the Christian faith. For me it reinforces the power of God’s love in my life. Some get bogged down in rules and rituals and debates over theological interpretations, but for me the gospel boils down to Love and Grace… God’s Love for me and Grace that goes beyond all my sins.  I wrote this poem earlier this year which sums up and focuses on the way all this plays out in my life.

The Silent Voice of the Spirit
In the recesses of the mind
Where reason and conscience lie
Right along side the knowledge of good and evil
There comes a sound // not in words
But a silent voice speaking to me
Not with scream nor shout

But with a still small (silent) voice
Heard above the noise of loud voices
Clamoring for my attention
Heard above the noise of city streets
Roaring trucks and honking taxies

Above social media smart phones
Spewing out trivial pursuits
The silent voice always there.

The other option…
Some call it mystical
Others hear nothing
But I hear the silent voice of God
Speaking into my soul…

The voice that says, “I love you my child.”
“No matter what you might do,
I love you!”
“Be all you can be!”

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

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Where Does the Spirit Dwell

 

Spirit Questions (a Rubaiyat)
Where dwells the spirit before life begins
Waiting to entwine with genes at man’s whim
Does it float in space riding red star dust
Or in ocean waves where the teeming swim

Where dwells the spirit when I took my first
Breath of life merged with heart and lungs first thirst
Spirit seems at home in this flesh and bone
Fragile body // heart pumping till it bursts

Where does my spirit dwell when life is done
As eyes close in death and the race is run
Breath leaves the body and the spirit’s rises
Rejoining spirit with Spirit // lives on

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

I posted this poem a year ago, but thought it would be a good one for Holy Week.

Today Frank at d’Verse asked us to write a rubia or a rubaiyat.
“A rubai or stanza in a rubaiyat is four lines long and rhymes AABA in iambic pentameter meter. That is how Edward Fitzgerald translated Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat. Khayyam was an 11th century Persian. Fitzgerald’s translation appeared in 1859.”
This is my first attempt at this so I hope I come close to what is expected.

Rose Petals

One must realize
When lying on a bed of roses
It took stems of thorns
To create such beauty
Pain // Pleasure

Grace

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

My Faith

Faith is the floodplain of Grace
Where I plant my roots to grow
Giving me the strength I need
To find meaning and purpose in life

Faith is the floodplain of Grace
Where conscience and moral values
Are cultivated throughout my lifetime;
Bringing meaning and purpose to life

Faith brings meaning and purpose to life
Sharing in a community of likeminded
Believers who support and encourage
One another to become all we can be

Faith is my connection to God
Community is the cement holding us,
The lively stones // the believers in Christ,
Together in love and fellowship

Faith is the floodplain of Grace where I am rooted
The source of who I am

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

The Greatest Gift

Christmas Love

Christmas is not about
Angels
Christmas is not about
Wise men
Mary and Joseph
Baby
In a manger, cold
Not about Santa
Coming
Nor gifts or presents
Wrapped tight
Not shining bright lights
At night
Christmas is our sign
His love
Permeating Love
Filling
A universal void
Our hearts
Filled by the great I AM

*********

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Light for the Soul

Winter solstice brings
A dark day //with future hope
Dispelling darkness
See the candle burning bright
Light returns after the night

Men of old waited
In deep darkness for the Light
Their hopes never dimmed
A baby born in darkness
Brought us the Love of God’s Light

Though darkness remains
God’s Grace changes the hearts of men
Light shines all around
Through the lives of believers
In the soul’s dark night // Love Wins!

********************************

Moon Painting: Dwight L. Roth

A Great Example

Death calls us one and all
Gathering one last time to pay respects
Four Presidents and a son all came together
Sitting solemnly in the front pew
No words of animosity spoken
Not the time for politics or twitter
Only a time for remembering
And honoring a life well lived
An elder statesman and former President
Words of praise // of humor // and of love
All expressions of those who loved him most
And then came the sermon…
~Of love and acceptance
~Of caring and compassion
Straight from the heart of God
Perhaps his last trip to Washington
Will speak to the discord and division
Leaving behind the greatest legacy of all…
An example to follow by the one now in charge
Let him who has ears to hear…
Hear and find wisdom to live by
From the life and example of
President George H.W. Bush
~December 5, 2018~

Photo of Bush’s Dog Scully: UPI

Where Were You?

 

Alan Jackson wrote this song after 9-11 reflecting on that terrible day when so many innocent people died in the collapse of the Twin Towers.  Today at d’verse, we were supposed to take a poem we wrote about 9-11 from our past writings about the event and lift some lines or words that could be used as a prompt for a poem today. Since I never wrote any poems about 9-11, I am barrowing Allen Jackson’s song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning”.

When the news broke that a plane hit the tower

I was on a ladder working on a chimney that September day

A phone call informed me and my world stopped turning

I felt compelled to go home and watch the news

Soon after I sat down to watch.  the second plane hit

Stunned // I watched as people ran for their lives

While first responders rushed into the inferno to help

My world literally stopped turning again as I watched

The first tower // then the second tower collapse and fall

White powder from pulverized concrete billowed everywhere

How could anyone do such horrific acts against fellow human beings?

When heroic acts brought down the third plane in Pennsylvania

The world stopped turning for many people whose loved ones

Lost their lives in the misguided attacks

I wondered how anyone could forgive such actions

Then I reflected on the horrific crucifixion  of Jesus

As he cried out in his agony // Father forgive them

For they know not what they do.

Faith, Hope,  and Love

Are the good things he gave us

But the greatest is Love!

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Video from Youtube

 

 

Cleansing Fire

Each evening we see the videos of the out of control fires in California. The latest one was started by someone with intent. The fire turned into a roaring inferno, destroying whole communities.  The evil that was perpetrated on homeowners will take years to recover. The landscape will recover faster. Forgiveness comes with a price.

Cleansing fire roars through

Fueled by dry summer brush

Souls need cleansing fire

Devil’s fire swept hillsides clean

Holy fire brings humility

 

Painting and Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Franks Tassone challenged us to remember the wild fires burning in the West.  Ironically the fire referred to as “Holy Fire” is the one started by arson .  We are to do a Haikai poem that uses or eludes to the word fire. I did a spinoff on this by looking at the way this fire might affect those who are victims of the damage it caused and the deaths that resulted, and how the Holy Fire of the Spirit is the only thing that will bring forgiveness.

Come join in at:   https://frankjtassone.com/2018/08/11/haikai-challenge-46-8-11-18-fire-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

 

Proving Your Faith

I believe it is contradictory to try to prove faith.  Some go to great lengths to prove that what they believe is right. Endless studies and theological discourses are done trying to disprove everyone else. Some feel if they can disprove evolution, for example that they will have accomplished a great milestone for Creationism. Still others pick and choose proof texts to support their particular beliefs. For me, this proves nothing. The proof of your faith is in living it. If what you say does not match what you do then you have nothing to offer anyone.

Proof is in the living //not in the proving

Faith is not based on proof //rather on belief

Proof is not disproving others

It is living the faith you choose

For it is in living that we convince others

That our words/work is not in vain

Yet we try so hard to convince ourselves we are right

Is it our doubt // or feelings of superiority?

Few are brought to faith by details of theology

Rather by the life of One who has lived selflessly

Faith is not supported by disproving science…

Which is ever changing as knowledge increases

Faith is not proven by what cannot be proven //

Stories of the past or imaginations of the future…

Recorded to uplift and reassure the faithful

Having little to do with drawing others to accept your Truth

Faith is a mystery // believing what can’t be proven

Accepting God’s Love and Grace

Living in that light each day of your life

Loving God //Loving your neighbor //Serving others

Faith is based on Love … not on Proof

Your faith in action becomes

“The Word made Flesh”