EXOTIC PARADISE
In George Herbert's poem 'Prayer (1)', we are given 27 different word pictures of prayer.
There are echoes of the exotic in his imagination. The poem drips with beauty and metaphors to stretch and pull our understanding.
Famously, perhaps, the poem ends with two words: prayer is 'something understood'. The emphasis, perhaps, is on 'something'.
Anyhow, just before that, Herbert paints an exotic picture as 'the land of spices'... In the weeks running up to Holy Week, spices take on a somber meaning, as we remember how Jesus was anointed with £30,000 of nard in preparation for his burial, and then his body was wrapped in 100lbs of spices purchased by Nicodemus. Prayer as lament and sorrow in the cave of spices may take us on a different journey altogether than perhaps Herbert was imagining...
Another of his word pictures are of prayer as a 'bird of paradise'. Perhaps one of the most beautiful and exotic of all birds is the peacock. The image in today's blog comes from a close up of a peacock I saw recently at Moseley Old Hall near Wolverhampton. The stunning colours, the iridescence of blues and greens and purples, catch your breath as the bird shimmers through the 17th century gardens. Prayer is not always about words. You might say that prayer is rarely about words. When such a beautiful bird moves it is a picture of grace and ridiculous joy.
Today, we have welcomed a new creature into our lives. Ethel is a beautiful border collie-cross who is incredibly nervous and flighty. She is about two-years-old and has come across the seas from Ireland. She is a lot smaller than Jess and seems to us to be quite fox-like! Still, she rounds us up like we are her personal flock of sheep when we walk with her on an extended lead. Somehow walking around the woods these last few months has felt quite lonely, even with family or friends. It has been an unexpected joy to have discover again the old paths through the woods. Our own little bird of paradise may not have plumage, but she is embodies gentleness and is full of life. To celebrate, we had a very spicy curry tonight! Something understood.
In George Herbert's poem 'Prayer (1)', we are given 27 different word pictures of prayer.
There are echoes of the exotic in his imagination. The poem drips with beauty and metaphors to stretch and pull our understanding.
Famously, perhaps, the poem ends with two words: prayer is 'something understood'. The emphasis, perhaps, is on 'something'.
Anyhow, just before that, Herbert paints an exotic picture as 'the land of spices'... In the weeks running up to Holy Week, spices take on a somber meaning, as we remember how Jesus was anointed with £30,000 of nard in preparation for his burial, and then his body was wrapped in 100lbs of spices purchased by Nicodemus. Prayer as lament and sorrow in the cave of spices may take us on a different journey altogether than perhaps Herbert was imagining...
Another of his word pictures are of prayer as a 'bird of paradise'. Perhaps one of the most beautiful and exotic of all birds is the peacock. The image in today's blog comes from a close up of a peacock I saw recently at Moseley Old Hall near Wolverhampton. The stunning colours, the iridescence of blues and greens and purples, catch your breath as the bird shimmers through the 17th century gardens. Prayer is not always about words. You might say that prayer is rarely about words. When such a beautiful bird moves it is a picture of grace and ridiculous joy.
Today, we have welcomed a new creature into our lives. Ethel is a beautiful border collie-cross who is incredibly nervous and flighty. She is about two-years-old and has come across the seas from Ireland. She is a lot smaller than Jess and seems to us to be quite fox-like! Still, she rounds us up like we are her personal flock of sheep when we walk with her on an extended lead. Somehow walking around the woods these last few months has felt quite lonely, even with family or friends. It has been an unexpected joy to have discover again the old paths through the woods. Our own little bird of paradise may not have plumage, but she is embodies gentleness and is full of life. To celebrate, we had a very spicy curry tonight! Something understood.
Ethel as a name for a dog isn't the obvious, but she says resurrection and newness of life and a new slant on a prayer walk.
ReplyDeleteI've been playing around with ideas for a blessing to say as I leave the house. I keep trying out different things, but this is the one I'm happiest with.
Holy Trinity
as we walk together
Clothe me with the protection of your presence,
Show me your spaciousness and freedom,
Satisfy me with beauty and wonder.
Bless every house I pass
Bless every person I meet.
The symbolism of peacocks in Christianity
ReplyDeleteIn ancient times, it was believed that peacock flesh did not decay; hence peacocks came to symbolise immortality and Christ. Motifs of peacocks were used in churches as a symbol of Christ.
Because they shed their feathers every year, and replace them with brighter feathers they also symbolise resurrection and renewal.
When the peacock displays it tail, it looks like hundreds of eyes, and is meant to represent the all knowing and seeing God.
Peacocks are apparently common motifs in Orthodox churches. I have never noticed them before, but shall certainly look out for peacocks the next time I am in an Orthodox church. I am reminded of what a lecturer once said,
"What the mind does not know, the eye cannot see."
A possible reference to peacocks in the book of Revelations.
Revelations 4:6
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
My prayer word this week has been "Joy". However, I would add that prayer is not so much "something understood" but "something experienced", just as joy is not a word to be defined and rationally understood but rather joy is to be experienced whether that be in walking a dog (welcome to Warley Ethel!) or in sitting in silence, in wordless humming prayer, or in using our bodies to express our worship of God.
ReplyDeletePrayer is words yet so much more than words as we seek to voice our praise of the eternal God, the Alpha and Omega. All our senses, our whole lives, are caught up in the joy of prayer.