Many thanks to Carol Varsalona for hosting today, and for offering the prompt of "Blossoming on the Spiritual Journey." Let's all keep Carol in our hearts as she has had a significant loss. She shared this poignant quote: "A world of grief and pain, flowers bloom—even then." --Kobayashi Issa
Following her prompt of blossoming, here are some spring photos from New Jersey:
I posted the following poem when I first started my blog, back in 2019, and today I decided to share it again. This is by John Neihardt, a Nebraska poet. I heard him recite this poem when he visited the college I attended way back in the day. The poem is so effusive, and when I see spring in New Jersey I see that same effusiveness in nature. It is titled "April Theology" but -- I hope you will agree that it works for May.
O to be breathing and hearing and feeling and seeing!
O the ineffably glorious privilege of being!
All of the World’s lovely girlhood, unfleshed and made spirit,
Broods out in the sunlight this morning — I see it, I hear it!
So read me no text, O my Brothers, and preach me no creeds;
I am busy beholding the glory of God in His deeds!
See! Everywhere buds coming out, blossoms flaming, bees humming!
Glad athletic growers up-reaching, things striving, becoming!
O, I know in my heart, in the sun-quickened, blossoming soul of me.
This something called self is a part, but the world is the whole of me!
I am one with these growers, these singers, these earnest becomers —
Co-heirs of the summer to be and past aeons of summers!
I kneel not nor grovel; no prayer with my lips shall I fashion.
Close-knit in the fabric of things, fused with one common passion —
To go on and become something greater — we growers are one;
None more in the world than a bird and none less than the sun;
But all woven into the glad indivisible Scheme,
God fashioning out in the Finite a part of His dream!
Out here where the world-love is flowing, unfettered, unpriced,
I feel all the depth of the man-soul and girl-heart of Christ!
‘Mid this riot of pink and white flame in this miracle weather,
Soul to soul, merged in one, God and I dream the vast dream together.
We are one in the doing of things that are done and to be;
I am part of my God as a raindrop is part of the sea!
What! House me my God? Take me in where no blossoms are blowing?
Roof me in from the blue, wall me in from the green, and wonder of growing?
Parcel out what is already mine, like a vender of staples?
See! Yonder my God burns revealed in the sap-drunken maples!
- John Neihardt
Praise God for the mystery and beauty of spring, for the glorious blooms,
for the exuberance of life, and for the promise that we, too, can be renewed.
He makes everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Sending my best wishes for a beautiful month.
Karen, that poem is wonderful and your photos are exquisite. Spring is such a glorious time and you've captured it so well! Thanks for sharing the glory of God with us!
ReplyDeleteKaren, this poem is certainly fitting for May. Your photos capture the beauty of the season and reminds us that God's promise of renewal is for all of us. Bob
ReplyDeleteKaren, you are busy reflecting all the beauty that surrounds you. Thanks for this glory-filled poem and flower-filled post!
ReplyDeleteKaren, those beautiful blossoms have inspired your beautiful words and us today. That poem is rich. No wonder you remember hearing him read it aloud.
ReplyDeleteKaren, it is wonderful to read your your commentand your blog. The photos you took of springtime are precious because they remind me of how fortunate we are to have beauty right before our eyes. I have read the poem several times and favor this line: O the ineffably glorious privilege of being! It is evening and I am ready to slow down and enjoy your photo parade of springtime. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteKaren - what a lovely, powerful offering, in every way. The "April Theology" poem by Neihardt is breathtaking. I will have to keep a copy. I also treasure this line you penned: "Praise God for the mystery and beauty of spring, for the glorious blooms, for the exuberance of life, and for the promise that we, too, can be renewed." -Yes! Let us do exactly that! We ARE doing that, with our posts...thank you for all of this.
ReplyDelete--from Fran
DeleteKaren, your photos are amazing! That forsythia just brings me joy. I love it so much! And the little orange and purple posies and the cheery cherry tree. They are all such perfect illustrations for this poem--which I have seen before but am so glad to read it again. It has a great bounce to it. Thank you so much for sharing your blossoming.
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