Thank God for the Poets

Perhaps I am into poetry at the moment. Certainly, I am enjoying Rumi.

God’s presence is there in front of us,
a fire on the left
a lovely stream on the right . . .
Whoever walks into the fire
appears suddenly in the cool stream,
Any head that goes under the water surface,
that head pokes out of the fire.
Most people guard against going into the fire,
and end up in it . . .
If you are a friend of God,
fire is your water.
You shoud wish to have a hundred thousand
sets of moth wings,
so that you could burn them away, one set a night.
(tr. Coleman Barks)

I am reminded of two things.

1. In both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, John the Baptist says that the one who will come after him (Jesus) will not be baptizing with water, but with fire. When I look at myself, as well as at most of us, I think we would rather settle for a baptism of water. We shy away from the fire, and end up in it when thrust there.
2. I am reminded of the words of the song, “Live This Mystery,” by Michael Card. It goes:

As the river seeks to be
forgotten in the sea
so my soul is so thirsty
it longs for Thee.
Like a moth around the flame
drawn to the light
and to the pain.
Since my life is hid in Thee
I must live this mystery.

It is, indeed, a mystery, that that which can draw us, can also repel us.  Paradox and mystery. Our lives are filled with them. We long for passion – for fire. And yet we try to stay away from danger; we do not want to be burned.

Thank God for the poets who find ways to express what we do not. And that their words can open us to mystery.