god of what’s next
there is a
temple
toward which
all temples point
all
temples belong
there is a myth
toward which
all myths
belong
and have a share
in truth
there is a story
of all earth
we do not know
because the earth is wide
and old
and layered
with one chapter
on which
another pressed
open
the lore of earth
to find that
we’re all there
heroes
and villains
as we choose
or were conditioned
or those
who load the guns
or apply the salves and bandages
after
who plant
who dance
who seek approval
for good food
in a harvest
and safe water
for
the seeds
of plants
and also of the children
all of earth
someday
perhaps
to be children of mars
or proxima
where our myths
will go with us
and be transformed
toward
the temple
and the truth
we’ll need to take with us
as us
sorry
no need to reinvent the lord
more than we have
though we might find
a thoroughness of mind
and heart
to keep
a civil altar
and a loving congregation
of humanity
with whom we meet
we hope
to accept us
and new names
for one
in the lord
it gets
confusing
and confused
we guess
but we will have to learn the points
of truth
with light
the meaning
and the words
before
all of us
may and
shall
sing together
c l couch
photo by Mitch Gaiser on Unsplash
(x= space)
x
x
Triduum-ish
x
let’s try it this way
happy trick-or-treating
get chocolate
enjoy night air
and dressing different
as against the veil
ancestors
disguised themselves
as well
x
then enjoy the day
for the saints
the followers of God
who are alive
and acting
faith and charity
all the time
or who must go
in fits and starts
x
then remember
those who are not here
anymore
but as if another veil
draw near to family
so the tradition
goes
with picnics at gravesites
brightly lit for now
while there are conversations
with the dead
in gratitude
for the proximity
x
a kind of triduum
that is
three special days
nothing incumbent or required
(priests would differ)
except that
we should enjoy
we should take part
we should remember
and also
(you know this)
show up in church
or synagogue
or temple
or mosque
or center
some place holy
every now and then
x
boo
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Cortor Media on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Blessings of Lights in Darkness
(appreciation of a Gentile toward the Jewish family)
x
Somewhere in Advent
Hanukkah begins
x
Sundown tomorrow,
I believe
x
Eight nights of blue
With silver lights
That dedicate
The temple
From our enemies
x
They’re gone:
We don’t have to think
About them
x
Now, there’s chocolate
And treats
In games
And gifts,
Small delights
And big ones for the heart
x
Anticipation
Practice
Family
x
My ignorance
Like ignorance
Has walls;
I’d rather be inside
The spirit of redemption
And occasion,
The community
x
The relief in having realized
Somber times
x
The pleasure now,
The fun
Of shalom
x
Eight days
Of miracle,
Of remembrance and the meaning that
Creation is in food
Also in candle lights
And in each of us
Singly
And specially together
Now
x
The one who saves is blessed
And offers blessing
And is the one
As one
Who provides seriously
And playfully as well
x
Is here
Beyond the count of days
And nights
But who is here
Inside these eight,
All the intimate hours
As we draw near to them
To have,
To share
x
Next year in Jerusalem
Then
And now with family
x
From the source of blessing,
Bless
And
Keep you, friends
x
C L Couch
x
x
Call of the Light
Photo by Robert Zunikoff on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Sanctuary Reasons
x
Through the Savior the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in the Savior you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
from Ephesians 2
[emphases mine]
x
A temple and a dwelling place
For caretakers, maybe
Sanctuary seekers
Refugees
x
Shall a holy place
Be a dwelling place as well?
Who’s to say?
We dedicate the space
In the name
And to the credit of the Lord
(perhaps for all we owe the Lord)
Like the Lord’s house
That might be waiting for us
In heaven
In all the mansions there
x
So if we say it is the Lord’s
And go to the Lord for learning,
What are the great commandments
And shall we apply them
In the holy place
And those who need a dwelling there
For needful reasons?
x
To go to with our need
On a weekly basis
And more often for
Needful reasons
Moment by moment,
Considering
Which is
The temple and the dwelling place
x
One
Two
Three
Many
All
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Joshua Eckstein on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
holy and holy
x
one priest one day a year
I wonder if it were cleaned
maybe by the priest
how dusty would it get
without a cleaning
over time
would the priest walk through dust
to find the glorious container
in which was God
maybe a walk through dust
reminded the priest
of mortality
on the way to what is glory
and shall never change
such a day it might be
when splendid robes
are marred
walking through the dust
accumulated
by passing time
by mortality
by forbidding rules
with eternity beyond
how tempting it might be
to stay
not have to walk back
through the particles
of death
reminding everything unclean
but the assignment ends
other rules pull
back through earth
back to earth
changed
moving faith
for another year
x
c l couch
x
x
Photo by Andy Køgl on Unsplash
x
Hanukkah Unto the Earth
(on the first full day of
Hanukkah, my time)
Hanukkah means to dedicate
The miracle was that the Temple
Could be dedicated, repaired of
Damage in the holy place, though
Still a vital need of oil for light
No oil found, then only in a
Small amount—and yet the
Temple space was sanctified
Because the light burned bright
For days, well beyond
The oil’s given time
Who doesn’t need light and
Miracle? We all need
To celebrate these, don’t we
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