Raging Against The Storm

Poems From The Porch

Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash.com

The master sat reclining comfortably on a cushion
 while the storm raged around him.

 Noteworthy is what he did not do.

 Absent from the narrative are
 complaint, worry, paralysis, and rage,
 the telltale signs of fear.

 Implicitly evident, instead,
 are the presence of faith that the storm will pass
 and trust that calm waters would replace the chaos.

 The master did what was his to do.

 He relaxed into the present moment.

 The storm was not his to manage.

Engaging With The Poem

 Poetry can be a doorway to the soul and your own creativity. Throughout the ages, the written word has been used as a means to access personal truth and as a vehicle for prayer through the practice of sacred reading (lectio divina). I encourage you to try this beautiful practice and let its fruits be self-evident.

 How to Practice Sacred Reading

 · READ
 · REFLECT
 · RESPOND
 · REST

 Read the passage through slowly more than once, noticing how it feels in your body and the response of your heart.

 Reflect: What word resonates with you? What phrase speaks to you?
 What overall personal meaning comes to you? Allow yourself to follow a tangent.

 Respond by making space for the prayer of your heart to manifest. Write down the words and/or phrases that resonate with you and allow them to arrange themselves into your own poem or prayer.

 Rest with your eyes closed, perhaps using the word that most resonates with you as your mantra for silent meditation.

Dear friend,

 May your mind be peaceful and calm,
 may your body be relaxed and comfortable,
 and may your heart be filled with love.

 Thank you for reading.

 Blessings and gratitude,
 Ani