What We Remember

It is what we remember
that changes everything.

Not the facts,
not the color or style,
whether it is wine, juice or water,

not the date,
or how often we set the table,
or how.

It is not a matter of simplicity
or ceremony,
or whether the blessing is offered

by a child in ragged clothes,
or a priest in solemn vestments.
It is the memory, “Do this in remembrance….”

Remembrance of love without limits, remembrance
of power that choses to serve more than rule, remembrance
that only God transforms us

from mere dust and wind,
to stone in the cathedral,
a light created out of darkness

and remembrance.

About this Poem.

Today’s Lenten word is “cup”. Coming on Maundy Thursday, a day that recalls Christ’s last supper with his disciples, where he breaks bread and shares wine, and, knowing his earthy fate that will unfold in the coming days, asks the disciples to remember him. So the reference is clear – the cup from the last supper.

But writing this one was hard for me. I could not get my head around what to write about, how to apply creativity and art and imagination to the concept. I struggled last night. I woke up this morning feeling fragile and unsure, as if my muse had fled me at last on one of these last days of lent.

So I stopped being creative. I just remembered. In in the remembering, this poem. Truly it’s what we choose to remember that has power in our lives. Christ knew that. We’re still learning.

Tom

PS: The picture was taken at the Sterling Rennaisance Faire in upstate New York.

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.