As the sun slants lower on the horizon, and the fog and rain become welcome harbingers of Autumn, my soul longs for an even deeper silence, so difficult to maintain during the bright busyness of full summer.

 A week’s travel to a family gathering for my sister and brother-in-law’s 50th Anniversary–while a wonderful celebration with family and friends, and a blessed liturgy together–only made me yet more aware of how our culture is so starved for silence–for quiet, for peace, for stillness.

Perhaps in this era of frantic multi-tasking and instantaneous communication, God has an even greater need of a few hidden pockets of souls listening to the Great Silence within the Heart of God. Yet I find that even hidden away in the Anchorhold, the temptations to distractions are varied and many.

One that has become personally intrusive for me is a sudden–and growing–spate of spam in comments on this Holy Dwelling blog. As a result, I have disabled the ability to comment on my blog. I will trust that if you truly are interested in commenting upon my entries in Holy Dwelling, you may find your way to communicate with me through anchorite-at-holydwelling-dot-com….and if that gets discovered by the spammers as well, we’ll find yet another way.

May you, too, find yourselves some pockets of Holy Silence.

EASTER MORN

Joseph said,
“The Tomb was closed—yet now the Rock is rolled away?”

Pilate said,
“I’ve washed my hands of this MAN—I’ll hear no wild tales HE yet lives.”

The Women said,
“We came with oils, but found a shroud—where can HE be?”

The Rain said,
“Our tears did wash HIS face—as we will wash each soul Baptized from this day hence.”

The Earth said,
“We welcomed HIS bones—and found our ancient mass transfigured into Light.”

The Fire of Hades said,
“We feared HIS coming—now HE commands us as Holy Fire.”

The Wind said,
“HIS Spirit turns our silence into Alleluias on high.”

The stars said,
“With HIS light risen from the tomb, our brightness is eternal.”

They all cried out,
“Alleluia! Christ is Risen! HE is Risen indeed! Alleluia!”

SC+, 2010

 HOLY SATURDAY

Joseph said,
“Here—I have a tomb, new, unused. HE may lie within.”

Pilate said,
“Take HIM—I care not where this troublesome man lies.”

The Women said,
“We weep, we mourn, but gather the oils—we will bind HIS wounds.”

The Rain said,
“Our tears will wash HIS face.”

The Earth said,
“We welcome HIS bones, formed from our dust before time began.”

The Fire of Hades said,
“We fear HIS coming—HE will steal our bounty.”

The Wind said,
“HE breathes no more, and even I am silenced.”

The stars said,
“HIS light is hidden, so we must shine bravely through darkest night.”

They all said,
“In silence, We will keep watch.”

The Whale
            A meditation for Good Friday

Sinking, sinking, sinking.
deep rest in darkness cold:
Tide washing torn flesh,
dilutes the blood,
chills the soul,
tossing limbs to and fro.

Silence beyond silence,
Cold beyond cold,
Fear beyond fear.

Bones lose strength,
and sinews sag
their very form is lost,
and what was once a life
with borders, edges, frames
returns to elemental stuff
where even cells break down
and atoms float into the void.

Consciousness and will
no more do dwell
within, without, or with at all.
There is no where, no up, no down,
no time, no space to mark
the passing of a life,
or entrance of a death. 

            And each is all.

“Remember: you are earth,
and to earth you shall return.”
We’ve got it wrong,
for earth herself
emerged from silent sea—
a pattern in the chaos we
label terra firma,
deluding our senses
into stable cosmos, order, law.

The very law of elementals
which moves in cyclic spiral,
crumbling cliffs and grinding
rocks upon the shore,
as earth dissolves into the sea,
so do our bones and soul,
becoming one within the void.

            And each is all.

Yet even there the life force moves,
and gently bumps against
my cells that are no more,
consumes and hallows emptiness:

“And there goes that Leviathan . . .”
that swallowed Jonah, spat him out:
Bone and sinew, flesh and blood?
or broken down to cell and atom, DNA?

What elemental form is known in death?
Is there some cell, some atom,
some electron with my name
engraved upon its very being? 

The dead return to earth,
that cosmic ordering of chaos,
that quieting of turbulent form. 

Yet is there not a further path,
where even earth
returns to void?

            And each is all.

In the deep silence of Maundy Thursday, we do such simple things: gather together to share a meal, tell ancient stories, break bread and pour wine, wash weary feet…and begin a vigil that will lead us through the terror and desolation of Good Friday, to the triumph and joy of the Resurrection.

Meet smooth, soft counterpoint:
BLESS  and  GIVE –
From a womb of terror
Birthing eas`ed pain, and  LIFE.

Harsh – soft – the rhythm roams Creation:
TAKE  and  BLESS
BREAK  and  GIVE
A symphony that sings of LOVE.

SC+ 1991

In 1982, when I wrote this poem, I was a member of a religious order, and it was our custom to have the sister presiding at the offices give a meditation for the community. Although the time of some of the commemorations was slightly different then, it still seems to fit….even from the silence and solitude of the hermitage.   SC+

LORD,  IT  IS  WELL  THAT  WE  ARE  HERE
A Week  of  Light  to  Ashes

And Peter said to Jesus:  “Lord, it is well that we are here.”
We’ll build three booths:  for Prophet, Law, and King —
to house the glory of the mountaintop
For human eyes dare not gaze upon this great illumining…
The cloud descends, and Voice commands:
“This is my well-beloved Son.”

Then Polycarp did have his turn:  “Lord, it is well that we are here.”
Four-score-and six you’ve led me well; I’ll not deny you now.
We’ve journeyed long and far and hard
to meet this day at Caesar’s call:
Now joyous flames will consecrate the love that asks not gain.

And Sisters said to Jesus:  “Lord, it is well that we are here.”
O day of ash and penitence! Your awesome weight surrounds;
The desert calls:  We turn again in silent prayer
To offer heart and soul and limb to join the sacrifice of God.

Then Matthias said to Jesus:  “Lord, it is well that we are here.”
I followed you through hill and vale; I listened at your feet.
I did not know you knew me, Lord, but now your call comes clear:
You’ve chosen me to fill the gap; and I say “yes” — in fear.

George Herbert ends the week:  “Lord, it is well that we are here.”
Priest and poet I did not seek, but a Country Parson feeding sheep.
Yet you have called me Lord, of your great Love, to enter in
and taste of thy sweet meat:
“So I did sit and eat.”

LORD, IT IS WELL THAT WE ARE HERE.
24  February 1982

EPIPHANY GIFTS

Wise men from the East
opened their  Treasure,
offering Him gifts . . .
               GOLD
                FRANKINCENSE
                MYRRH

                                If I could give you a gift,
                                would it be GOLD,
                                remembering others
                                who freeze for lack of shelter?

                                                The gift I can give
                                                is the GOLD of silence
                                                in daily prayer.

                                If I could give you a gift,
                                would it be INCENSE,
                                remembering others
                                who choke for lack of clean air?

                                                The gift I can give
                                                is the INCENSE of joy
                                                before God at the altar.

                                If I could give you a gift,
                                would it be MYRRH,
                                remembering others
                                who die for lack of fragrant oil?

                                                The gift I can give
                                                is the MYRRH of tears
                                                for the easing of wounds.

                                                                                                                        SC+, Epiphany 2009