Three Degrees

Outside it is three degrees
and the bright February sun lies,

while you stand at the kitchen window,
the blessed, and often expensive warmth

burrowed deep in your bones.

You must leave soon.
and face the cold outside

with it’s evil wind that sucks
the air from your lungs in mere minutes.

No sanctuary is forever.

But you linger a few moments longer,
a steaming cup of tea in your hands,

hoping it’s warm, indwelling
deep in your belly

stays with you for the journey.

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About the poem. 

Some ancient cultures believed our courage dwelt in our stomachs, no doubt because of what happens in our belly when we are faced with a crisis, that flopping, tumbling, heavy feeling of fear, infatuation or coming battle.

In the church, we often speak of the world outside as if it is a dark or cold place, which it undoubtedly is sometimes, but it is also a place we are called to live in. The church then, is a sanctuary, but only for a while, a place to gather our strength until we are ready, with an indwelling God, to enter it again.

The picture is of the window in my kitchen, just overlooking the sink. A place I spend a fair amount of time since I have no dishwasher and do my own dishes. You can click on it for a larger version.

Tom

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About these Lenten Poems

My friend Cathy Benson is on to something. Instead of doing without for Lent, she is doing MORE with a prayer project that is thoughtful and caring.

Giving up something for Lent is a church tradition, not a biblical command. It was designed to get our minds and hearts right as we approach the holy week and Easter. It’s a good spiritual discipline.

But I think a spiritual discipline of doing something more is also a powerful way to prepare our hearts for Easter. The Methodists, through their “Rethink Church” initiative have come up with a photographic way to do this (see below). I am going to add a poem with each image for the lent season to help prepare myself. Feel free to glom on to the idea, visit to blog and read, share your thoughts and your prayers.

If you want to read all the Lenten Poems, go to the “lent” category on the right, and it will list them for you.