Into the Woods

One Body

Lord cloak me in your love
Allow me to act weightlessly beneath it

Let the divine scent of coffee outside
Not reach my nose during Mass

When the celestial beeps of my alarm call me to prayer
Help me respond with grace

If a burning rash of mosquito bites appears on me
May I acknowledge the greatness of all your creatures

When frustrated with directions on the way to retreat
Remind me of the wise men finding their way to you

If there are times when the cloak comes loose,
and the stresses of scents, nature and hunger are allowed to reach me
Let me not shy away, but recognize it as an opportunity to see God


My poetic side came out this morning on retreat. The setting is beautiful mansion in a wooded area where we can watch deer run or sit reflectively by the lake. Today, Sister Bridget touched on some interesting topics, including a response to our concerns that there our so many problems in the world that we won't be able to help. She said that we have to remember that even Jesus was limited to his place and time, and to a certain amount of energy. Though we can't be everywhere, we can live and love as Jesus did.

She gave us the suggestion to reflect on our deepest desires spiritually (what we long and thirst for) and to put this into some creative form. So, I trudged of to the woods and tried to get lost in thought, but felt really tired....and the insects were biting me....I was kind of hungry....the sun was in my face. Which made me think about all the times when I feel like I should be paying attention to someone or trying to establish a connection with a person or God, but instead I am distracted by my physical needs. I realized, however, that as we're made in the image and likeliness of God, the moments when we are human are also moments when we are Godly. That's what I tried to get across in the above poem.

Sister also noted that all of us seemed tired from a week of classes and reminded us to check in with our needs and take time to relax. In that spirit, I'm off to have a glass of wine with the girls before heading to bed.