baruch
Yom Kippur
that I don’t fully understand
but that is happening
now
sunset Friday
to nightfall
Saturday
(which is today)
and this year
no doubt
there will be praying for the closeness
of God
upon the hostages
held by Hamas
and not by the Palestinian people
generally
the day is for repentance
to ask forgiveness of
the Lord
so that we might be restored
and reconciled
but something I’ve been told is that
the day before
Erev Yom Kippur
is a day for asking forgiveness
of each other
we forgive each other
and then
we may ask forgiveness of God
ten days for repentance
actually
between Rosh Hashanah and
now
the Christian doctrinal story
is about
leaving one’s gift before the altar
to go
make up with one’s sibling
(should
there be conflict)
and thus being
truly
prepared
even according to priorities
to go to
present at the altar
to have time
with the Lord
and be open to fullest forgiveness
forgive each other first
then ask
forgiveness of God
I think that’s how the teaching goes
in two traditions
maybe more
I don’t
know
I could be wrong
of course
But might God bless
the devout
on Yom Kippur
and
direct us all toward
reconciliation
c l couch
photo by Jeanne Rouillard on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
benedictus
x
we could be pleased
with what we had
and sad for what is missed
we could love what there is
let go the hate for
what was taken
who took it
we could love with a love
not pure, because there’s always
imperfection
we could correct and sigh
sigh and correct over faults
x
we could love
because alternatives shall drive us
into places where
no one really wants to go
or stay
more so, we could come home
to the dwelling of our hearts
and smarter thoughts
inside the land that God more fully made
that shall remain
when the rest
the doubt, the pain, even scorn
shall fall away
while love remain
x
c l couch
x
x
hoto by savvas kalimeris on unsplash
x
Parabling
(Chapter 10, Actions of the Apostles)
The sheet unfolded
Peter saw so many things
And was told they are all
Good
Enjoy it, Peter
This is the bounty of the Earth
Fertile plains surrounded by
Its hills and all its oceans
Kosher is important
It’s devout and, frankly, safer
But how could there be
A kosher forest? Or a kosher
Ocean or a sky?
All that is created and blessed
Is in the litany of Genesis
And that is good
Darkness and light
Water and land
Animals and our charge
To care for it all
Everything that bore the movement
Of God’s spirit and carries
The imprint, still
Having been made
Against the loneliness
Of God
Peter’s solitude is challenged
The exclusion of society
The orthodoxy of an elite
Must open the door
Rend the curtain
Opens its doorway
Baring the inside
Of robes and crowns
Relent, ye wealthy of the Earth
You are not Solomon
Who knows whose obedience
He owes
And a better nature
Demanded in a daily life
Turning over all the neighbor’s need
Like finding small, hard, and fibrous plants
To harvest from dark soil
Peter is enlightened;
Through the story,
Now are we
C L Couch
http://rosycroix.blogspot.com/2010/04/clothes-line.html
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