Friday, January 16, 2015

Mark 1:14-15

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

A mind of joy

The sun sinks slowly behind

a line of trees, bare branches

breaking the orange glow

of a winter-weakened sun

into a thousand angled windows

of fading light, each cherished

as day light slips into January cold.

Sitting in the wonder of light

the heart travels far beyond sun

to the Light who is Light,

the Source of moments

of watching and feeling love

for the blessing of day,

for the light that finds chilled

cheeks and warms hearts

with the joy of being, the

ecstasy of being here …

in the orange glow of winter

sun as day gives way to night.

From what mystery comes

this joy, this love unexpected,

rising up, filling the heart,

spilling tears warmer than

any sunny day?

Tomorrow, a different sun will

rise, a new day, unknown,

simply given, to be welcomed

for whatever it brings. But

already the glow of day’s end

awakens hope that tomorrow

will be as full and graced as this.

Why?

Why this joy, this love,

this hope? Are our hearts tuned

to joy that the Joy of the Infinite

One might warm the hearts and

awaken tears at the sight of

setting suns, such a common

thing, happens every day?

No, not so common, each day

is miracle, each atom of light

a wonder, each moment of sight

a joy for hearts tuned to see

holiness and gift in the light of

winter suns. The kingdom of Love

is here, present among the tree

branches farming orange winter

light at odd angles as jet contrails

plow cobalt skies and fade into

wisps in winter’s bitter cold. But

there is no fading here, in this heart

that sees and knows, this mind

of joy, awakened by Love to the

good news of the holy kingdom

not far but here in every moment

kissed by Love and loved for whatever

small blessing it brings.

For the mind of joy, awakened

by Love, time is fulfilled, as full as

this heart in orange winter glow.

Pr. David L. Miller