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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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

Finding God

 

Somewhere amid the rules and regulations
The desire for correctness
The literal interpretation….
Underneath it all we hope to find God
Buried in the guilt and shame
Of imperfection // fallenness
We lie…
Controlled by our fears
Manipulated by our insecurities
Underneath it all we hope to find God
In creeds and sacraments of blood and wine
In stories of suffering // blessing // and chosenness `
We struggle to make right our wrongs
Knowing that…
Underneath it all we hope to find God
Our prayers ascend on wings of faith
Hoping to find an opiate for our pain
A clearing and focused mind
That can see and feel that…
Underneath it all we hope to find God
We open our heart to redeeming grace
Finally realizing // it’s not what we do
Not what we say verbosely to others
It is in forgiving others // and ourselves
That we find love and acceptance
And underneath it all we find God

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Stain glass window from the WUM Church in Weddington, NC

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

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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!

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Moon Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Advent of Innocence

Advent of Innocence
Today is the first Sunday of Advent in the Christian Faith. Emmanuel, God with us, was the prophesy of the promised Messiah. A time when God himself would take on the human embodiment to show us what it would be like to live and love in a life contradictory to the norms and darkness of the day. It is interesting to me that the Messiah came to us in the innocence of a tiny baby. The future life and sacrifice of Jesus brought forgiveness, grace, and peace to all who choose to believe.

The Word made flesh
Advent of innocence brings
Light piercing darkness

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Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Shared with the Frank Tassone Haikai Challenge. Join us at: https://frankjtassone.com/2018/12/02/haikai-challenge-63-12-2-18-advent-and-or-hanukkah-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

Truth and Light

I was introduced to reverse poetry yesterday in our prompt at d’Verse Poets Pub weekly prompt. I really enjoy it and so I am trying it again with a poem I wrote a year or two ago. Reverse poetry writes the poem and then turns it around and rewrites it from the bottom up with a few minor changes. See what you think!

Desert of Truth (Reverse Poetry)

Light without fruit creates a desert
Overwhelming all // burning
Driving everything underground
Faith without fruit creates a desert
No shade // No water // No food
Just intense // overpowering repulsion
For all to avoid

Grace // Mercy // and Truth
Fruit to feed on
A well to drink from
Shade of protection to come under
Don’t let your life become a desert
Don’t let your truth become light to avoid
*
Let your Love reach out to all
*
Don’t let your truth become light to avoid
Don’t let your life become a desert
(Be) a shade of protection to come under
A well to drink from
Fruit to feed on
Grace // Mercy // and Truth

For all avoid
Intense //overpowering repulsion
No shade // No water // No food
Faith without fruit creates a desert
Driving everything underground
Overwhelming all // burning
*
Light without fruit creates a desert

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Light & Hope (a Tanka)

Crown of thorns feeding

off of bloodshed sacrifice

ends //a cross of Grace.

God’s love for mankind shown

Self-sacrifice // Light and Hope

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Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Holy Place

Holy Place (a Quadrille)

Burning bush // the path of guilt

Words of “I AM” searing the heart…

Mirroring my soul awry…

Calling, “Come, take off your shoes”

“Step forward”//“This is holy ground.”

Let go past laments

Rise in newness of life.

Not a building //location //nor shrine

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

We were asked by Amaya, at d”Verse, to think about Holy Places that are sacred to people. They might be shrines, locations, or buildings that people go to and find a connection to the the divine.  We are to write a poem of our choosing. I chose to write a quadrille.

Although I have great respect and high regard for what most people consider Holy Places, I find that it is not a place or a thing that brings me connection to God. It is rather the Spirit connection that has occurred in me at various times over the years. It may be through hearing the spoken word, the words of a song, an event, seeing a butterfly or bird, the birth of a baby or the ecstasy of love. It could be in church or out in the mountains. God to me is Spirit, and the place the I find our spirits connecting is a Holy Place.

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