My plans are too often disrupted I’ll choose then to be interrupted I’ll hoist up in prayer Each day this bold choice Then joy will cascade uncorrupted
Surprises, each day guarantees (Old Murphy’s most mischievous deeds) When prior they’re welcomed Not curveball, nor fire Will ire or pilfer my peace
Each monkey wrench tossed in my face Invites me the cross to embrace These tiny denials And trials without whining Refine my rough ego with grace
Bear fruit from intrusions: pre-choose ’em!
As a Friend once pre-chose to give all
When plans areall dashed
With mayhem ensuing
That Friend will intrude with His peace unsurpassed
With His laugh that disrupts and His look that will crush all your brooding
***
In his book Interior Freedom, Fr. Jacques Philippe uses the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux to explain the freedom available when we are interrupted. He says of Thérèse: “[St. Thérèse] did not like having her work interrupted. Sometimes she was asked to do work requiring quite a lot of concentration … [but] the schedule of the Carmelite community was so intense that she had very little time at her disposal. When she finally found an hour or two to devote to the job, she applied herself in the following spirit: ‘I choose to be interrupted.’ If a good Sister then came by to ask her for some little service, instead of coldly sending her away Thérèse made the effort to accept the interruption with good grace. And if nobody interrupted her, she considered that a charming present from her loving God and was very grateful to him.” -Interior Freedom, 56
New Yorkers are kind, but ain’t tryin’ to be nice Californians seem nice, if not kind “You betcha” that Northerners- “Ope!”- will delight Down South you’re called “Sweetheart”, you’ll find
No matter from where fellow trav’llers have rolled If you they the wrong way do rub By eyes of ice, frigid words or shoulder cold Go “Melt ’em with Mercy!” and love
When road hogs screech by flashing digits distressing Or scream at you, leaving you shaken They’re hijacked by evil, so “Blast ’em With Blessings!” Watch Daytona Grace overtake ’em
At leaders enslaved to their power or their purse You’re outraged! Our nation’s betrayers! So, “Free ’em with Fasting!” God’s mercy rehearse To humble both pray-ee and pray-er
When tempted to bark something rude or plain wild At teens dressed risqué or unkemptly Then “Mold ‘em, Don’t Scold ‘em!” with eyes kind and mild To quell their rebellion pre-emptly
If dreaming up zingers for Internet critics Whose gibes are unbearably biting “Requite with Politeness!” and shock by words civic Keep wits to subvert vicious fighting
St. Paul wrote, by kindness, “heap coals on your foes” * In other words, “Melt ’em With Mercy!” The cheek that you turn proves a mirror that shows ‘em They’ve hogtied themselves! (a la Circe**)
“Give enemies love, allwho curse and despise you…” Absurd? Without grace, it sure is! “Pray dearly for folks who abuse or crosswise you” *** Just who would dare say this? Outrageous! The truth may confuse or surprise you
The One Who was hated and cursed and up-hung… …Now tomb-sprung, the soon-to-come Lord!
So “Blast ’em With Blessings!” “Free ’em with Fasting!” “Mold ‘em, Don’t Scold ‘em!” “Requite with Politeness!”
In searching For something To sum up These slogans The Gem I’ll remember… Is “Mercy!” *****
NB: “God’s greatest attribute is mercy” (This phrase my college professor encouraged us to write at the top of any test we struggled with!)
*”…if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” (Romans 12:20 ESV)
**Circe was a goddess who turned men into hogs and other animals in Greek mythology such as in Homer’s Odyssey, where she turned Odysseus’ men to swine on her island of Aeaea
***”But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your coat as well.” (Luke 6:27-29 RSVCE)Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. He commited no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. He commited no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:20b-25)
Oh would that I’d not Go knocking on wood It won’t botch the bad as I’d thought that it could But I’ll knock by much prayer on the Wood of the Cross ThatDoor through which passes all good
When stuck, I would cross My fingers for luck No dice! Luck is rarely “a lady tonight” * So I’ll cross myself slowly with quick-rising trust Since luck ain’t got nothin’ on Christ
Each Friday the 13th My heart would grow cold Expecting an unlucky day to unfold But now I see Fridays as gold, and can’t wait The day death and Satan lost hold
I’d used to rough-mumble My prayers without care To force the Lord’s hand in each plan or affair But then I read, “Abba, not my will, but Thine”
Aware now…
From where came…
Such fair words…
Iecho His prayer
*****
*Guys and Dolls, musical – Rodgers and Hammerstein
The strokes of these rough stanzas A mysterious face will paint Some star of bygone fandom? Some lunatic, yet saint?
Some hero of the Nobel Prize? A man you’d hope to meet? A myth whose magic never dies? A legend ever sweet?
Or One whose mocked, so-seemed defeat Unlocked the skies?
The “Man”…
A “judge not” kind of man who preached That heaven’s way is mercy? Or… The Way to heaven’s mercy, and Of every man, the Judge?
A holy “prophet” with the goal Of bringing princedoms peace? Or… The “Prince of Peace” and holiness The goal of all prophets?
A “nice guy” scorning Roman rule Who failed to get his point across? Yet…. Cruel Cross and pointed nails Weren’t Roman scorn for “nice guys”
The “Myth”…
A “myth” fulfilling Marxist fears As “opium of the masses”? Or… The Master of all hopes; all fears Fulfilling ancient myths? (3)
Is “Christ” a cry for pains and wounds? For messes, a mere curse word? Or… The Word-made-curse Who solved our mess By wounds and cries to heaven? (1)
The “Legend”…
A “teacher” about life and death Who saved surprising truths? Or… The Truth, Whose death-to-life surprise Still saves, gives life, and teaches?
A lie the early Jews would preach To gain a name and glory? Or… The glorious Name for gain of Whom They’d choose to preach and die? (2)
A would-be “king” reflecting love And light, like many others? Or… An otherworldly “Kindly Light” (4) And King of love, Whose subjectsnow Unveil… And reflect… God’s here-yet-also-up-and-coming Kingdom? ***** (1) St. Paul: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13)
(2) St. Leo the Great: “‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ Is it possible to offer, or even to imagine, a purer kind of prayer than that which shows mercy to one’s torturers by making intercession for them? It was thanks to this kind of prayer that the frenzied persecutors who shed the blood of our Redeemer drank it afterward in faith and proclaimed him to be the Son of God.” (From the Moral Reflections on Job)
CS Lewis: “Now the story of Christ is simply a true myth: a myth working on us in the same way as the others, but with this tremendous difference that it really happened: and one must be content to accept it in the same way, remembering that it is God’s myth where the others are men’s myths: i.e. the Pagan stories are God expressing Himself through the minds of poets, using such images as He found there, while Christianity is God expressing Himself through what we call ‘real things’. Therefore it is true, not in the sense of being a ‘description’ of God (that no finite mind could take in) but in the sense of being the way in which God chooses to (or can) appear to our faculties. The ‘doctrines’ we get out of the true myth are of course less true: they are the translations into our concepts and ideas of that which God has already expressed in a language more adequate, namely the actual incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. Does this amount to a belief in Christianity? At any rate I am now certain (a) That this Christian story is to be approached, in a sense, as I approach other myths. (b) That it is the most important and full of meaning. I am also nearly certain that it really happened….” (letter to Arthur Greeves: from The Kilns [on his conversion to Christianity], 18 October 1931)
Ocean dip or kiddie pool? Beach or box of dirt? Lazyboy or shaky stool? Christmas presents cool… Or school shirt?
Noonday sun or candle flame? Chess or Tic-Tac-Toe? Honey pure or aspartame? Roses fresh cut for yourdame… Or plainly faux?
Forty winks or feline nap? Crème brûlée or mud pie? National Park or tourist trap? By arms and robes enwrapped... Or trapped in pigsty?*
Tie the knot or dare not try? Crown that lasts or laurels? Seek a friend, or cold A.I.? Trusting Him Who died to rise Or ego-caught… A lot afraid… Until that daythe farm’s bought?
***
*Luke 15
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.” -C.S. Lewis
Note: “mirror” should be read with two syllables in this poem…
***
I dreamt I found that fabled mirror,peered within, and asked Vain questionings inspired by SnowWhite’s queen Yet afterwards, my self-exalting queries were at last All answered in a different kind of mirror
But first, my pride inquired of that dark glass…
“Mirror Mirror on the wall Who speaks fairest, do you think? Who’s the wisest one of all, the Sage about whom quills will spill much ink?”
“Who has beauty like a swan of White, or sunset in the West? Who is called the paragon of Light and truth and love and all the rest?”
Vain conceit conceived these words
Could anything deflate my puffed up chest?
I awoke and found a mirror Leatherbound, its leaves relieved my Mind of darkness growing ever drearer
Sage and Saint within reflect Heights of love; man’s worth afresh Pages inked with red connect the Heart to heaven’s Mirror built of flesh
Mirror of the Father’s care The Fairest One! God’s wisdom spoken Mirror of man’s calling, when He Gives His very Self in Bread that’s broken
Mirror marched up skullish mount Fount of healing; cracked and scorned Mirror tarnished, on a beam Gleaming love through hatred humbly borne
Mirror shattered; hope betrayed? Shards of splendor in a tomb Soon exhumed; the glass remade! The Grave transfigured ever since to womb
Be meek my soul; look deep inside That Mirror, see; reflect His rays! Direct those lost in dark of pride To-ward the humble Star Who shines the way
Who moonlights, too, as Path and Door… (1)
The Door that opens up to where He’s Sun
Where all the meek and pure of heart give praise (2)
(Inspired by the song, LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH, by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson, see below for video)
***
Let there be JOY on the earth And let it “Big Bang” in me now My angst is eroded By faith fresh-exploded As Zion’s joy shines from my brow
Let there be PEACE on the earth And let it begin with Yours Truly But first, I’ll receive it Since God must conceive it In hearts that will plead for it duly
Let there be MERCY on earth And let it disperse from me first Since I’ve been forgiven I’ve seventy-fold striven to Relay it, God’sReign to rehearse
Let there be FIRE on the earth And let me be kindling consumed God’s Love is a spark Each quark it has scorched From that Arsonist‘s Heart, since exhumed
True prayer is desire A longing, a yearning A stoking of fire That purges and brands without burning
A sigh– to unsmother A cry– soaked in hope A glance– at the Lover Who with every soul, would elope
Before prayer begins The Stag has been leaping (2) Across peaks within To trade His own joy for our weeping
Prayer answers that thirst Our heartaches make known Yet God has it worse Prayer mergesHisthirst with our own (1)
To pray is to dine On “meat” and “wine blended”- (2.5) The “choicest of wine”- (3) Our drought and our famine upended
To hand off what harms To slough off dismay To sink into Arms That mold to His image this clay (3.5)
The soul’s transformation A bath in love’s Flame Sweet divinization The Bridegroom’s new life free fromshame
When things go as planned Or couldn’t have gone worse (4) When life’s “fine and dand” Or soon to be hailing a hearse
When warmed by the sun Or while the flakes fly When the fight’s lost or won When “Thanks” is the only reply
Where silence is falling And list’ning unfettered Where no voice is calling But HIS Voice, within, or red-lettered
In bedrooms or churches On hikes to the peak In the bus as it lurches There‘s no place where one cannot seek…
And be found…
Bythe OneWho, for love, ever searches
*****
(1) Catechism of the Catholic Church #2560
(2) Song of Songs 2:9
(2.5) Proverbs 9:2
(3) Psalm 127
(3.5) Isaiah
(4) “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances” -1 Thessalonians 5:18
(5) Zephaniah 3
“I assure you that God is much better than you believe. He is content with a glance, a sigh of love.” “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”-St. Therese of Lisieux
“Labour, therefore, to increase the fire of your desire, and let not a moment pass without crying to Me with humble voice, or without continual prayers before Me for your neighbours.’-God to St. Catherine of Siena, from the Dialogue
(4-4 rhythm) Ignatius’ love for Christ was lion-heartedly defiant It roared! in seven letters to his flocks When Trajan’s men condemned him to be prey for starving lions He inked this pledge; I warm you that it shocks!
(3-4 rhythm) “The fire and the cross and the packs of wild beasts “The gashes, the rendings and wrenching of bone “The mangling of limbs and the crushing of… body “The devil’s own tortures…” (to be suffered alone)
“Let such come upon me”, Ignatius announced “if…
I may gain…
Christ!” (1)
(4-4 rhythm) This sentiment is sourced in the apostle Paul’s epistle He lists his “light afflictions” borne in meekness (2) To boast not of himself but of what’s souly beneficial: The Cross and that which fully “shows his weakness” (3)
Such as…
(3-4 rhythm) “…imprisonments… beatings and often near death (4) “And five times I suffered the 39 lashes “Then thrice I was beaten with rods, and once stoned “And thrice also shipwrecked… adrift” in the splashes
“Then danger from rivers, and danger from robbers “And danger from fam’ly; from Gentiles; false peers “Through danger in cities, in wild lands and waters “Through sleeplessness, hunger; through cold and through fears”
“For His sake I’ve lost all things, deeming them dung [literal translation] “that I may gain Christ!” (5) May this song ever be sung!
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage [dung], that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” -Philippians 3:8-11
The Spirit of God comes with gifts to INfuse Which the spirit of evil would have me REfuse Whose will I choose For strength?
The Spirit of Jesus prefers to EXcuse (1) While the spirit of “Satan” just loves to ACcuse (2) Whose will I choose For mercy?
The Spirit of Truth only truths will DIffuse Which the spirit of lies will but twist to CONfuse Whose will I choose For clarity?
The Spirit of heav’n will unite and ENthuse While the spirit of hell will divide and ABuse Whose will I choose For fellowship?
The first, like a drop on a “sponge”, sweet and gentle (3) The second, a drop on a “rock”, sharp and loud Whose will I choose For direction?
God’s Life-giving Spirit will shake up the stray (4)
And sting so to bring to repent and amend
But the spirit of death will distract and delay
In hopes that his prey go astray in the end
Whose will I choose
Today?
***** (1) “Forgive them Father, they know not what they do” -Lk 23:34 (2) “Satan” means “Accuser” (3) “In those who are making progress in the spiritual life, from good to better, the good angel touches the soul gently, tenderly, and sweetly, as a drop of water entering a sponge, but the evil spirit touches it sharply, with noise and agitation, like a drop of water hitting upon a rock.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises) https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/the-sponge-and-the-rock/
(4) “For people who have closed themselves off from God’s grace, the good spirit disturbs and shakes up. It stirs feelings of remorse and discontent. The purpose is to make the person unhappy with a sinful way of life. On the other hand, the evil spirit wants such people to continue in their confusion and darkness. So the evil spirit tries to make them complacent, content, and satisfied with their distractions and pleasures”
“A house divided ‘gainst itself Can’t stand” is said by many Who said it first? Abe Lincoln? Or That “President”… Whose “term” is neverending (Mt 12:25)
Big Arnold’s “I’ll be back!” is quoted Lots by funny guys And long ago, One promised that “They’ll kill Him; and In three days He will rise” (Mk 9:31)
“Son, with great pow’r comes great Responsibility” said Uncle Ben A paraphrase to Peter of “To whom is given much Is much required, then” (Lk 12:48)
“There’s no place like home!” was spoken By a girl with longing face Recalling wohopin’ “My Father’s Home Has many dwelling places” (Jn 14:2)
The title “greatest in the world” Is claimed by only some Augustus, Trajan, Genghis Kahn Yet once a Rabbi dared to claim “The world I’ve overcome” (Jn 16:33)
D’you think that quote, “to find yourself Is to lose yourself” sounds squalid? This Gandhi quote falls short of Christ’s: “Who’d lose their life For Me, will find it” solid (Mt 16:25)
That golden “Love your neighbor” phrase Has gotten massive cover Yet Christ commands a greater rule “As I’ve loved you So you must love each other” (Jn 13:34)
By many tongues His words resound Like, “Turn the other cheek” “No greater love”; “Be not afraid” “Ask and you’ll receive”…
The lasting gifts our Father brings Ain’t “mockingbirds” or “diamond rings” Not “looking glasses” “Billy goats” (1) Or heavy sacks of crisp new notes
Ain’t giant boxes wrapped in strings No, it’s a seed that sprouts fresh things Its fruits can rescue Drowning hearts By drawing them to Peter’s Barque
The fruit of FAITH, which gives one wings And that of HOPE for living springs What is this seed? God’s Word, well told To “bear much fruit”, a hundred fold
Its greatest fruit, the spark of LOVE For friends, for foes, for heav’n above There is no good This fruit won’t bring For all who lean upon its King ***** (1) Hush Little Baby, by Mother Goose
(Preamble: this is a loose paraphrase with “artistic license” of the account of Exodus 3-4, in a spirit of reverence to the holy Word of God and to God’s holy prophet St. Moses)
********** The LORD appeared to Moses in an unburnt bush, aflame He’d heard the Hebrews groaning Under Pharoah’s lash of shame So God told Moses to return and free them from their tears Yet Moses’ heart was cramped with doubt and fear
“BUT who am I to go to Pharaoh? Who am I to plead? BUT I can’t save your people! I’m a nobody, indeed!” His BUT’s got in his way, but couldn’t counter God’s rebuttals Away from God’s command, he couldn’t scuttle
So God said, “I’ll be with you; very soon this sign you’ll see: One day upon this mountain You will serve and worship me! Yet Moses wasn’t ready to say yes to God’s request He moved from BUT’s to IF’s in his distress
“So IF I were to go to all the Israelites and say ‘Your God has sent me to you!’ And then they ask Your name? What shall I say?” The LORD replied, “Say, I AM WHO I AM (1) Your forebears’ God, beginning with Abraham”
“BUT what if they do not believe or listen to my words BUT say, ‘The LORD did not appear! That’s crazy! That’s absurd!’” The LORD replied, “What’s in your hand?” and Moses said, “A staff” God ordered, “Throw it down on My behalf”
He tossed it down; it changed into a snake (perhaps an asp) The LORD said, “Grasp its tail” It changed back into a staff! Next God instructed Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak” He did, then pulled it out, turned white as snow!
“Now put your hand back in your cloak”, said God, and he obeyed When he pulled it out again It was back to normal shade! Despite these signs, he let another BUT soon block his way With patient love, God listened to him pray
“BUT LORD, I’m slow of speech!” A good excuse? It was a dud “Who gives strength to speak at all? You’ll change water into blood! For I’ll be with you, and I’ll tell you what to say”, God said Then Moses cried, “Send someone else instead!”
The LORD had Aaron, Moses’ brother, join him as his speaker Then sent them on their quest Egypt’s “gods” proved all the weaker God freed those slaves, and still today frees slaves from cruel misers Like IF’s and BUT’s and other paralyzers
The Pharaoh and his slav’ry are true symbols of our foes: The sin and death that CAPTURED us And Satan’s “empty show” The NEW Moses, Christ Jesus, by His death and rising, freed us! He RESCUED us; His Spirit now will lead us!
The next time some BUT blocks you as you follow God each day Like, “BUT I’m just not strong enough” Or, “BUT I can’t, no way!” Recall the words of Paul, “I can do ALL through Christ Who strengthens me” (2) And then get off your BUT’s…
Inspired by and quoting the poem Pike’s Peak, later lyrics for the song America the Beautiful, by Katharine Lee Bates (1893)
“O beautiful for spacious skies”, America! we sing Directing thanks and songs towards The One Who grants this land’s rewards All spacious, amber, purple, fruited, shining things! Glad offerings Which beauty’s Source affords
“O beautiful for pilgrim feet”, America! we see Discov’ring that those feet and drums That beat the streets to save us from All tyrants glum, were guided by The One unseen Who sets us free As freedom’s Source and Sum
“O beautiful for heroes proved”, America! we hail Yet hailing most Whose words enthrall: “No greater love” than to give one’s all (Jn. 15:13) Who urges each To let His fire refine their gold When courage fails As valor’s Source and Call
“O beautiful for patriot dream”, America! we praise Yet praising most Who shares our tears As we beat pruning hooks to spears (Is. 2:4)
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 