Posted by johnboy on September 06, 1999 at 21:51:17:
wrapped in swaddling clothes
lying in a manger
the Creator of the universe
in cold, in dark, in danger
whether vulnerable to Herod
and to Egypt taking flight
or taken in Gethsemane
in the cold, the dark, the night
submitting to another's will
always passive, always led
the greatest Mysteries were done unto Him
per the Gospels i have read
'twas the same thing with His Mother
i recall her simple words
let it all be done unto me
is all the angel, Gabriel, heard
all the sacred Gospel Mysteries
be they joy or pain or glory
reveal the actions of the Father
and the Spirit in the Story
as for Jesus, as for Mary
they spent their lives in prayer
their wills had been surrendered
into the Father's care
even miracles like Cana
or when He calmed the winds at sea
were just the power flowing through Him
to set the Father's people free
to set the peoples free
free from sin and death and fear
the Father sent His Only Son
and in doing so drew near
the lame could walk, the blind could see
the loaves were multiplying
still Jesus didn't need to go
to heal those who were dying
all He did was cast His shadow
they'd just touch His garment's hem
and He'd marvel just like we do
at what flowed right out of Him
His active life was one of prayer
His apostolate contemplation
He surrendered His very will
overcoming all temptation
so stop and think about it
all the things that you must do
they're all for naught if you block the flow
of the Father's love through you
your job's to do the Father's will
it mostly takes a lot of prayer
it takes complete surrender
into His loving care
there is nothing you can do for Him
you must firmly grasp this picture
despite your every sacrifice
He's a sixpence none the richer
you are here for transformation
image to image, glory to glory
your purpose meets fulfillment
in reliving Jesus' story
once dropping your agenda
you'll then view life's interruptions
as the stuff of your remolding
as such are not mere disruptions
what's in your way now is the way
is the lesson i have learned
and all you do and all you have
is nothing you have earned
it's when you're down with no control
that the truth here will sink in
when all is lost and you've given up
the Father will begin
it's when you've met a child in poverty
or a paraplegic who can't speak
or when your loved one lies there helplessly
and the outlook's really bleak
it's when these people can do nothing
but are valued for their being
that you'll see yourself as God does
when it's you that He is seeing
He loves you unconditionally
and there is nothing you can do
to change His love, to lose His care
He yearns and longs for you
your dignity is unconditional
whether an elder or a baby
it does not involve production
no ifs, no buts, no maybe
knowing this you'll know compassion
and solidarity
we're all in this thing together
you and him and her and me
you'll find your meaning in your being
your doing will be Another's
you'll find your purpose in just seeing
all as sisters, all as brothers
we are taught this by the poor
those on the margins and little known
our real glory is freely given
in our weakness it is shown
this doxology speaks of glory
from the Father thru His Son
given by the Holy Spirit to us
each and everyone
this is the orthodoxy
the "true glory" given all
take it now while you're still standing
or you can wait until you fall
you can run from Him and hide from Her
but they'll keep running, ever chasing
they'll break your will and shape your will
once seduced you'll be embracing
in a life that's full of passion
ever passive is your role
your work's to do the Father's will
surrendering control
it's a lesson most learn late in life
when our faculties lose way
it is sometimes taught in tragedy
or when illness comes to stay
when your doing becomes being
and is simply attitude
then your being will find its doing
is nothing more than gratitude
there are others who will hear me
who'll not wait to be confronted
who with open hearts and open hands
will do what the Father wanted
the choice is yours, the time is now
your world can be forsaken
just give it up and let it go
Her reward's there for the taking
then what you do and what you give
will feed the hungry and the poor
but it'll be God working through you
and not your doing any more
johnboy
september 1999
meditation on Nouwen's __Adam__