Category Archives: Lectio Divina Ponderings

Can all things be made new?

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an image of trees reflecting in the water at sunset. with the text of Revelation 21:1-6
What if we let
everything be made new?

What if we stopped holding
so tightly to all that has
come before?

What if we made space
for the divine to dwell
	with us
	within us
	around us
	beside us
	underneath us
	over us?

What if we let
ourselves be made new?

Can we even imagine
that might be
possible?

Because what if it is?

Decided to go back and take a look at things I’ve written during the contemplative spirituality group I’m part of on Monday nights and see what might be ready to find its way out of my notebook. This one was started during Lectio Divina using Revelation 21:1-6 back in July 2023.

We need a bigger God

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Your God is too small
my father taught me 
to see that danger 
in the faith of others
to be willing to rail
to speak out
to argue 
to demand
space to allow God
to be bigger 
when others made God
too small

but how often
do I forget
I also need a bigger God?
Photo of a stained glass window with a centre start filled with multi-coloured transparent beads.
A window at McMenamins Elks Temple Hotel in Tacoma, WA. Photo by karencee

Written during Lectio Divina and inspired by a excerpt from The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus by Peter J. Gomes.

You know where you belong

By Posted in Lectio Divina Ponderings, Poetry Tagged , , , Leave a comment 
Beloved
whether you can perceive them
or not
you are not alone
keep soaring
you are making progress
even when you cannot see
the destination
and all seems covered in fog
you know the path
it is who you are
it is part of your DNA
you know where you belong
photo of a notebook with the words "Marke the world a little kinder" and a photo of a goose flying in the fog sitting on top of the notebook

Written during a contemplative spirituality retreat during a reflective practice called visio divina. It’s similar to lectio divina, but you use an image to focus your attention as you reflect. This was my image and the notebook I wrote in. I do not know who created the image.

A little time

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Give me a little time ...
  we didn't get here
  suddenly
  we won't find the path forward
  immediately

Give yourself a little time ...
  you burnt out
  you exhausted your reserves
  you won't be magically fixed
  without time to rest

Give us a little time ...
  to explore again
  who you are
  to grow into 
  who you long to be

Inspired by the reading of Mary Oliver’s poem “Blue Iris” during tonight’s Lectio Divina practice.

Photo of purple irises in front of a stone wall
Photo: Karencee – Purple Irises (Somewhere I must have a photo of blue irises, but it’s hiding so purple will have to do)

As I have never been before

By Posted in Lectio Divina Ponderings, Life Lessons, Poetry Tagged , , 1 Comment 
I am here
as I have never been
before

I've been on this path before
in this very spot before
so many times before
over countless years before

and yet ...

it is not the same
as it was before

I am not the same
as I was before

it does not have to be
as it was before

same path
same spot
new choices

I am here
as I have never been
before

With thanks to a couple lines from Wendell Berry’s poem “Rembember that it happened once” for inspiration found during our Lectio Divina practice a few weeks back.

What do I mean …

By Posted in Lectio Divina Ponderings, Poetry Tagged , , , 1 Comment 
What do I mean when I say I'm praying for you?
It means that in my heart, and maybe physically,
I've lit a candle and quietly spoken your name
in the presence of the divine, whatever that might mean to you or me

What do I mean when I say I'm praying for you?
Not what I meant when faith was certain
when I was sure I knew God's heart
or at least wanted you to believe I did

What do I mean when I say I'm praying for you?
It means I am seeking light for you
that when it is dark there will be a glimmer
the tiniest spark to lead you on your path

What do I mean when I say I'm praying for you?
Not what I meant when prayer was used as a weapon
to judge and shame and convict without compassion
when prayer was a way to sanctify gossip

What do I meant when I say I'm praying for you?
It means an offer of love and support 
as unconditional as I know how to give
so we both know we are not alone on the journey

I’ve been thinking a lot about what prayer means to me now that faith is both less certain and yet deeper and richer. Similarly, prayer is now both more and less than it once was.

Finding light in the darkness

By Posted in Lectio Divina Ponderings, Poetry Tagged , , , , , Leave a comment 
it looks different now
in part because I know its name
which makes it both harder and easier
in a way I don't know how to navigate
but I've found my way out of darkness before

the darkness of the closet
the darkness of shame
the darkness of grief
the darkness of depression

I've found the window of light
the one I worked so hard to recognize before
it's still there, I've just lost track of it
the darkness didn't extinguish it then
the darkness hasn't consumed it now

the hard-earned light of past travail
sometimes that's the window of light to surprise you
sometimes that's a crack "that's how the light gets in"
sometimes that's what motivates you 
"to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight"
sometimes that's what reminds you the pain now won't be for 
evermore

It’s Monday night … tonight’s context for this writing during our Lectio Divina practice was Taylor Swift’s song Evermore and John O’Donohue’s blessing “For Suffering” and also the discussion that happened as we shared what we had heard in our listening that drew connections deeper and richer than I had heard on my own. I am so grateful for this community.

And yes, I’m also grateful for Canadian poet-songwriters Leonard Cohen and Bruce Cockburn.

Image of a sunset at the horizon, with white text superimposed. Text: For Suffering by John O'Donohue May you be blessed in the holy names of those Who, without you knowing it, Help to carry and lighten your pain. May you know serenity When you are called To enter the house of suffering. May a window of light always surprise you. May you be granted the wisdom To avoid false resistance; When suffering knocks on the door of your life, May you glimpse its eventual gifts. May you be able to receive the fruits of suffering. May memory bless and protect you With the hard-earned light of past travail; To remind you that you have survived before And though the darkness now is deep, You will soon see the approaching light. May the grace of time heal your wounds. May you know that though the storm might rage, Not a hair of your head will be harmed.
Image created by Matt Nightingale

We’re still there

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From Andrea Gibson’s The Definition of Love …

You can find the full text of Andrea Gibson’s poem on their substack.
... where I come from beauty is in the eye
of anyone who sees what’s missing
but can’t stop pointing to what’s still there.
If there is no definition of love yet,
I think that’s a good one.
we're still there
   despite everything
        that has been missing
              we're still there
                    that is the definition of love
                          that is the evidence of our faith

Some context is important and if you follow me on Twitter, it won’t be surprising the context includes that I’ve been listening to Flamy Grant’s song Good Day, so I couldn’t help but hear Andrea’s words with that song as an underlying soundtrack during the Lectio Divina practice of the Monday Night Contemplative Spirituality Group I’m part of.

If somehow you haven’t heard Good Day yet, have a listen. You won’t regret it.

You can find the lyrics for Good Day on Flamy Grant’s Bandcamp page … and download the song too!

Psalm 19:7-8 – I have questions

By Posted in Lectio Divina Ponderings, Poetry Tagged , , , , Leave a comment 
The law of the Lord is perfect,
          refreshing the soul.
     How have we turned them to something that drains all signs of life?

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
          making wise the simple.
     How did we decide that everything is clear and literal?

The precepts of the Lord are right,
          giving joy to the heart.
     How have we transformed them into weapons of hate?

The commands of the Lord are radiant,
          giving light to the eyes.
     How did we use them to condemn those we don't understand to death?

So many times the Respond movement of our Monday Night Lectio Divina practice ends up with me choosing to write. Tonight, I had more questions than answers.

the benefit of believing

By Posted in Lectio Divina Ponderings, Poetry Tagged , Leave a comment 
what if I allowed
myself to trust?
to sit with that feeling
to know
or rather ...
to give God ... and myself ...
the benefit of believing
God is at work
not in timelines
I define or understand
but at work nonetheless
shaping 
transforming
a new spirit within us

For me, the respond movement of our Monday night lectio divina practice often includes writing. Not sure it will happen often, but now that I’ve had a chance to sit with it for a few days this week’s gets to be shared.

The reading was Patient Trust by Pierre Teilahard de Chardin.

Photo of a tree with blossoms and round lights with a blue wash. and white text of the poem Patient Trust. The link above the image has the full text of the poem for ease of reading

(Photo credit: mine)