The night of the senses…
“Instructions”
Give up the world; give up self; finally, give up God.
Find god in rhododendrons and rocks,
passers-by, your cat.
Pare your beliefs, your absolutes.
Make it simple; make it clean.
No carry-on luggage allowed.
Examine all you have
with a loving and critical eye, then
throw away some more.
Repeat. Repeat.
Keep this and only this:
what your heart beats loudly for
what feels heavy and full in your gut.
There will only be one or two
things you will keep,
and they will fit lightly
in your pocket.
by Sheri Hostetler
It is a lovely poem. Perhaps one will be disturbed by the line, “finally, give up God” - but don’t be. Rather, consider it as giving up your meager apprehension of the God you may have created in your personal, private piety; your limited comprehension of Him, your demands of Him, and the obedience you expect of Him in your prayer and devotions.
Allow God to BE, and allow yourself to be. Then you can allow yourself to be loved and transformed in Him - by Him.
And do not be afraid to see God reflected in His creation, which is NOT God, but a reflection of His attributes…albeit faintly, as in a mirror.
“Pare your beliefs” when they do not accord with Truth, when they are full of self and self righteousness, devoid of love. Concentrate upon the essential, that which is unseen, unfelt, unknowable.
This is not doctrine; simply a thought, perhaps a suggestion…merely something to consider…to think about…to ponder.
EVERYTHING passes - God alone remains.
“LOVE never fails…prophecies will cease, tongues will be silent, knowledge will pass away…there are in the end three things that last: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13
Thus, “Let nothing disturb you…”
(Thanks to my monk-friend, David - for the poem and his undying friendship, that has endured many storms, and who lovingly understands my wretched poverty of spirit.)
May 4th, 2007 at 5:54 am
Thanks for sharing this, Terry. Chances are I’d have never stumbled across the poem had I not come across your blog many months ago. Your insight into things theological is a help to me. I think you should add inspirational to the category list.
May 4th, 2007 at 6:49 am
“God Alone” is etched in the stone above the entrance to the cloister at Gethsemani. I have a difficult time letting God be God. I have a difficult time just “being” with God; I quite often find myself trying to find just the right words to express myself to Him in prayer. I have to remind myself to just let go and “be.” Your post reminds me of a quote by St. Francis de Sales: “When you come before the Lord, talk to Him if you can; if you can’t, just stay there, let yourself be seen, and don’t try too hard to do anything else!”
May 4th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Beautiful!
May 4th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Stunning post.
May 4th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
this is very much in line with the poem by St. Teresa of Avila - Let nothing disturb thee, nothing affright thee…one of my favorites.