More Poems from Spain

Come fly the river.
Be mad from flood storming loss.
Cry glory
and play, dancing along
the milky soft night sky.
Enfold the jewel gift
of butterfly.
MC

A thousand
time rich trees
Smell the vale
Sing sweet green
and lazy the sun
MC

Silvery Sentinel
You do not die
North faced lichen stumped tree.
From gentle knarledness
comes slender youth.
Branches bearing the potent fruit
To be ripened
then crushed to malleable flow
or to fall
received to decay.
To be absorbed
by the life of the root
or lost? MC

I walk wise
in Paradise Park
Soul alive and free
above the silver mirror sky
beneath the diamond tree.
MC



Creo Creo Creo Senor

I know that He exists
The One and Only
He made a universe He didn't need,
It was the style of His love.
By His Son He entered the world to redeem.
Death to bring life,
by the Word and the Spirit
Beloved and Holy
He renews the scarred earth
Until the completion time.
A resurrection shared
Community born
Together, forever with Him.
MC

Poetry and Paella - continued

For our final Communion service one participant wrote a creative the 'Los Olivos' creed

Poem

To write a poem
must I have something to say?
Word to convey
meaning?
So many possibilities
like the leaves jostling above me.
I am content
to wait
and see.

(dg)

I didn't have to read that book
was it duty
or a desire not to appear ungrateful?
I should have said
it's not my thing
when it was first offered
but I read it
what might I have done with the time?
write a poem?
not this one

(dg)

The Olive Tree

Betrayed by your scars and gnarled appearance
who bears witness to man's betrayal.
Of nature gives the fairest though
crushed and beaten for our gain.
Centuries old you, constant companion
healing, nourishing, cleansing

(rg)

Poetry and Paella

I have just spent a fantastic week at Hacienda Los Olivos in Spain leading a week on 'words'. There were six of us, playing with words, reading words and writing words. The fridge poetry on the first day got the creative juices going, and the excellent food and surroundings added to the inspiration that flowed by the end of the week. I have promised the group that I would display our poetry on the blog...so here is a taster. Hopefully more will be posted before the end of the month. Pour a large glass of Sangria and enjoy! Thanks to all those poets (and budding poets) for a most memorable week.

Almond and Rosemary

Marzipan and roast lamb

Sundays and Christmas
Here along the road.
Smelt, sun drenched, ripe for the taking
and making
baking and creating.
Symbols of new life and laughter
plenty, ground, placed, paste
remembrance.
Create, taste
God saw, and yes, it was good.

(KMG)

Los Olivos (A Psalm)

Life in abundance

Offered and received

Silence and laughter - equally free

Open to otherness

Looking attentively

Inviting creativity

Values we find

Our thanks to our Maker

Saviour, Lord

(All)

Morning

The sun rises over the hard-edged mountain.
I sit entranced, silent in its golden warmth,
Stunned before its majesty. (JB)


The Olive Tree

So dry the land, so bare, unwelcoming
And yet the olive tree
Lush, green, abundant.
Improbable., impossible
But for its roots searching deep for the water of life.

(JB)


Andalucian September

Above
Relentless sky, infinitely clear and blue;
Around me
Red-grey ground, dry and crisp,
Exhausted grasses crackling underfoot.
No rain,
No cloud,
No water.
Yet there is green:
Olive green, almond green, grass green, leaf green,
Swaying in the gathering breeze.
And water,
Deep below, concealed, waiting.
Roots delve, explore, discover,
Quench thirst,
Bring life in green abundance.
(JB)

A Nervous Swimmer

A nervous swimmer
I crouch beside the pool,
Half-attracted by the cool, clear water, sapphire in the mid-day sun,
Anticipating the pleasure and thrill of immersion.
But half-fearful, hesitant,
not quite trusting
its promise of renewal.
I breathe deeply,
Take the plunge……..
Fantastic!

(JB)

Reflections inside and out

Distant birds passing

heavy breeze

solid blue sky

constant crickets communicate

- another tongue underfoot.

The world below is lost

- on hold this moment.

Soul searching, delve deeper,

down, down, within

where truth lies

undisturbed by rush, time, expectations and

domestic duty.

There deep within is treasure

that speaks 'I am'

deliberately slowly

as if to say 'Hello' once more.

The core of our being, undisturbed.

Our reason for living.

Reach within, pull it out,

direct the memory, inspect the love.

Neglect

for one second, everything else

speak truth, the truth

and be.

Be. Begin again,

refrain 'I am' again and again.

Let it resonate, resound

so the natural orchestra can become one

in time, in tune, in harmony

Inspiration.

Tuck it up again, inside,

the part of God that knew you from the beginning

and rest awhile

on the mountain top.

(KMG)

Wine in the Olive Grove

(or the consequences of it!)

Green leaves gleam in the afternoon sun

clink of glasses, grasshoppers chirping

Anticipating your fruit with wine's

bouquet. Smooth fruit

unripened. memories

of childhood

holidays

The man

and

woman

glance

knowingly

They said 'Why leave us here?'

All in the end is Harvest!

(Rama Kaje)

The Walking Madonna Reflection

I wonder what saying yes to God means to you?

It may have been a significant event – said once, and lived out ever since. It may have been a sequence of decisions, many still to be made; It may mean a loud confident cry, or reluctant resignation, there may have been a sense of freedom and liberation, or you have the scars to prove it. There may have been loss, or gain, laughter or tears, pain and sacrifice or gift and abundance.

For me, saying yes to God began with a pencil sharpener as I, aged 13 volunteered to sharpen pencils for the Sunday School and it still goes on as I wake up each day and be who God has called me to be, as best I can.

For Mary it was a very different story, beginning at about the same age, a vulnerable teenager visited by the divine and called to an extra-ordinary life. Her yes not only took courage, it always needed courage, and it embraced her completely in the redemptive work of God for all time.

Here Mary stands, her yes part of her being. Her stance a sign of her strength and determination and her body an expression of a life lived, like no other in the presence of God, the birth, life, death and resurrection of her son transforming her, the Holy Spirit leading her on.

The Walking Madonna seen here was the artist Elisabeth Frink’s only female figure. All her other sculptures are of men and when confronted with a commission for a woman Frink involuntarily sculpted her own face. The work could be construed as a metaphor for the artist’s life. Can we see something of ourselves in her?

Our yes to God, and to life expressed in the eyes, or the stance or the determination or the expression of life lived?

This is no conventional, modest Madonna lurking in the security of a Cathedral alcove. She strides with singleness of purpose oblivious to the distractions of those around her.

Dare we, walk away from what we have known? Is God asking us to do a new thing? Be courageous and go where he calls us?

There is integrity in this Mary’s gaze, a sense of purpose and iron strength in her gaunt figure. Her back is turned on the sanctuary and security of the cathedral. Instead she chooses to stride out into the town to meet the world full on.

Is God calling you to meet the world full on? To change it ? transform it? What message do you take with you?

Mary doesn’t always stand here alone, sometimes she holds the strangest of objects as they are placed into her hands and left there – a beer can, an umbrella, a rose, a tesco carrier bag. Symbols of humanity and divinity still are touched by her. What would she carry for you? Or may be, just maybe you want to put your hand in hers to be led by her, on your journey.

I wonder what saying yes to God means to you after this course?

You have some ideas, some skills, some experience…… and very soon you will walk away. Taking it with you, part of God’s story for this time in church history. Take strength from this statue…ponder it for a while in your own heart.

And remember these words: Be bold, be strong, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you, he will not fail you or forsake you.

Easter Sunday

It has been both sobering and challenging to count my blessings during Lent 2011. Giving up chocolate too has shown me that it is possible to live differently...we just need to try. As someone whose job is so focussed on the local (albeit countywide local) it is amazing how worldwide this blog has become, and it is by widening our horizons that we enter more fully into the height, breadth and depth of God.

The challenge now for me is what I take of these 40 days into my day to day living. I will certainly try and recycle more, will turn the thermostat down a notch and think about what resources I squander or take for granted. I already have some thoughts for next year about fasting from emails, or limiting my mileage. But, they can wait.

For now is the time to celebrate the risen Lord with alleluias, the eucharist and yes, some chocolate. Happy Easter.

Risen Christ, Lord of life
Help us to roll away the stone of our selfishness and apathy
so that new life may arise
wherever love and hope are crucified
May we live out your Easter faith,
and bring the miracle of your resurrection to the world.

Good Friday

We may not know, we cannot tell
what pains he had to bear
But we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.

Today Christians throughout the world remember the most significant event in history. That Christ died on the cross. We serve a crucified God. God willing to give up everything out of love for humankind. The sinless one was punished, the lamb of God was offered up, the price was paid. However we look at what happened, and however flawed our understanding, the death of Jesus has changed and challenged people ever since it happened.

The cross calls us to a life of service - to give ourselves up in return to serve God, to make our own sacrifices out of love for him. To count as nothing the things of the world for the sake of life itself. It's no wonder that our schools, our hospitals, many of our aid agencies, our charities and our community groups were started by Christians and are funded by Christians. Local surveys often reveal the level of volunteerism amongst Christians to be higher than any other group.

We give thanks for all organisations and individuals in the world reaching out to those in need.

Today as Christians we stop serving the world for one moment and instead gather around the cross. An empty Cross, reminding us of the cost and the calling. The world in all its busyness may pass us by, may pass Him by, but this day we can be renewed in our compassion by the generosity of God, and restored in our commitment through the love of Christ.

BROKEN FOR ME, broken for you,
The body of Jesus, broken for you.

He offered His body, He poured out His soul;
Jesus was broken, that we might be whole:

Maundy Thursday

Although all Lent's are the same length, this one seems to have been a particularly long one! I think it is because Easter falls the latest it ever can, and the 'lengthen' season when the days get longer has been accompanied by all the daffodils flowering and dying, the blue bells out a few weeks early and everyone in shorts and T.shirts. Now it feels we are on the edge of summer, rather than the start of the last few days before the dawning of a new beginning.

It's strange how our environment affects our inner spirit. That's why these next three days lend themselves so well to a reawakening of the senses and the drama of the passion of Christ. I still have memories of Oberammergau in my mind this year and began yesterday to replay the music in my car as I drove along. I may not understand the German but I can easily get into the mood of the passion play. This morning I join clergy from across the diocese at the Cathedral where holy oil is blessed and vows made now 16 years ago are renewed. Tonight I share supper and the liturgy of the Last Supper and Watch with the sisters at Burnham Abbey.

It may not feel like Holy Week outside but by bringing all of ourselves to the liturgical commemoration of Christ's last days we can share once again in his love and compassion. As I count my blessings today with Christians throughout the world and reflect on Christ's call to service I become part of something much bigger. My actions matter for the sake of Christ in the world.

As one recycled tin can save enough energy to power a television for three hours somewhere else my stewardship matters. Yes, for others because they matter, but for Christ too. Who calls us all this day no longer strangers but friends and gives us that commandment to do for others what he has done for us.