VEILED
This tree is like gossamer silk, a veil of silhouetted outlines against a clear evening sky. With the sun dipping below the horizon, the clarity of these lovely branches reminded me of a thin and delicate veil. And then, a passage from 2 Corinthians 3, came to mind, inspiring this short poem.
Veiled,
that's how the future is;This tree is like gossamer silk, a veil of silhouetted outlines against a clear evening sky. With the sun dipping below the horizon, the clarity of these lovely branches reminded me of a thin and delicate veil. And then, a passage from 2 Corinthians 3, came to mind, inspiring this short poem.
Veiled,
veiled by the tissue thinness
of the skeins of time
like scales covering our eyes.
Veiled,
that's how our understanding is;
veiled by prejudice and misconception
and the accumulated hurts and wounds
of harsh living through time.
Veiled,
that's how our soul is;
veiled by possessions weighing heavily,
and holding us back
from holding out the open palm.
Veiled,
that's how our truth is;
veiled by the shame of our lies and half-truths
and imaginings that seem to cling yet are
as transparent as a film's negative held to the light.
Yet we, when we turn to God,
are invited to trust the breath of the Spirit
to gently blow away these veils.
For where the Spirit of God is, there is freedom.
And all of us with unveiled faces, says St Paul
can begin to see the glory of God,
as if looking in a mirror - seeing our true selves
perhaps for the first time.
For, a veil was once torn,
one dark Friday afternoon.
Unveiled, divine love
took on a crucified form,
stripped and striped for our transforming.
May we trust in the loving, searching, gaze of Christ.
May we trust in the gentle kindness of the Spirit.
May we trust in the magnificent re-creation of the Creator.
Reading this remarkable poem about being veiled leads me to reflect on revelation, for revelation means "the lifting of a veil". I think of the Transfiguration of Jesus when for a few moments, the veil is lifted and the disciples get a glimpse of the full glory of Jesus. John's Gospel, in particular, points to the fulness of God's divine glory as being revealed in the person of Jesus, and ultimately in his death and resurrection, his "hour of glory". God lifts the veil and reveals himself through the suffering death of Jesus. That is the shocking scandal of the cross. No mighty power displayed but self giving love.
ReplyDeleteWhen our future is veiled, we can trust in the God of revelation, who lifts the veil when, and in people and places where we are least expecting it.
Yesterday, I attended the funeral of a lady I will name Janet ( not her real name). She was ninety when she died. I watched her age over the years. Her vision became veiled,as did her hearing. Then, one day, we all had to face the elephant in the room when she became so demented she could no longer stay at home on her own. Her mind had become veiled. She was no longer coherent, and at times, didn't recognise her own family.
ReplyDeleteAs the funeral service ended, I felt like a veil had come down over her life for us, as it lifted for her, coming face to face with her Maker.
Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
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ReplyDelete