First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
Transformation and Journey...
"If the angel deigns to come, it will be because you have convinced him--and not by your tears, but by your resolve to make a beginning." -- Rainer Maria Rilke
My Farewell
"I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." (St. Paul)
Things are happening. Daily.
I come across new disturbances
in my routine. I am curiously
unsettled. I dress myself
and the clothes fall to the floor.
I scratch my head. Dust
in my hand. All morning
arranging flowers, and for what?
Petals fallen, litter
on the pretty cloth. I march
straightway to the mirror
and shake my fist. My hand
is a blue maraca scattering petals.
I shout my rage
and hear my words praising
the vast goodness of the world.
This is beyond control.
Even so, I am slowly learning one thing:
of one thing I am slowly becoming
aware: whether or not I would
have it so, whether I sleep
or no, I will be changed.
I am changing as I speak. Bless you all.
Suffer the children. Finished. Keep.
--Scott Cairns
Today I learned a lesson,
the simplest kind of lesson--
from a fruit jar cover.
My first turn was wrong;
but I was stubborn,
and I was strong.
The second was more wrong
because I was strong.
And now it sticks.
How sad to be strong
(and stubborn)
when you're wrong!
--Gerhard Frost