Night

It is not only the dawn that is sure.
Night too falls,
predictable and cold,
hiding

it’s terrors
in a dark blindness
that reminds us
how little we control,

how important it is
to build fires
from an inner light
that can not be quenched.

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About the poem

We are half way through the Lenten season now. And often, when we are making spiritual progress, there comes a time when we hit a wall, when something or a string of somethings sets us back, and the darkness we are pushing back with our spiritual discipline overwhelms us. The same happens in our daily lives, when we are struggling with.. with almost anything.

If I have learned anything in 57 years of life, it is that victory comes to the prepared and persistent, far more often than to the merely brilliant or lucky, And so, if we are prepared for the setbacks, we can be resilient in a way that otherwise we can’t.

The photograph was taken in New York City. And even though it is dark, it was taken during the middle of the day.

Tom

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 the blog and read, or share your thoughts and prayers.