The Vertical Life

A poem in response to Logion 52 from the Gospel of Thomas.

Feet planted.

Growing deep…

rooted down…

deep into the ground.

Hands up.  Stretched high.

Poking through the sky ceiling

and into the dark cosmos depths.

Body

stretched and ribbon long.

Face turned up.  To the Son.

Soaking in Love.  Peace.

Living a Vertical Life.

Come, Lord Jesus.

His students said,

"Each of Israel's twenty-four prophets

spoke about you."

Jesus said,

"You ignore the living one in your presence

and speak only about the dead."

(Logion 52)

The Singular Always Inconvenient Invitation

"I would hate to think of my teacher suddenly appearing before me, extending that singular but always inconvenient invitation, and hearing myself offer the knee-jerk response, 'I'm sorry, that doesn't work for me.'" -- Cynthia Bourgeault

A poem.  Based on Logion 64 from the Gospel of Thomas and Cynthia Bourgeault's commentary.


The Singular Always Inconvenient Invitation

It comes at the worst possible time...

right when I've figured everything out.

Of course.

So…

do I silence the call?

Or take the jump?

Come, Lord Jesus.

Jesus says,

A man was having guests, and

when he had prepared the dinner,

he sent out his servant to call them.

He went to the first and said,

"My master calls you."

He replied, "I have some funds

for some merchants who are

coming to me this evening.

I beg to be excused from dinner."

He went to another saying,

"My master has invited you."

He said to him,

"I have bought a house which

requires a day of my time.

I am too busy to come."

He came to another and said to him,

"My master calls you."

He said to him,

"My friend is getting married,

and I am cooking the wedding dinner.

I ask you to excuse me."

He went to another one and said,

"My master calls you."

This one replied, "I have bought a farm,

and I am on my way to pay taxes.

I cannot come. Please excuse me."

The servant went back to his master and said,

"Those you invited to dinner

have all excused themselves."

The master said to the servant,

"Go outside onto the roads. Seize them there,

and bring them here to eat.

Those busy buying and selling

cannot get into my Father's realm."

(Logion 64)

Living Water

A poem in response to Logion 74 from the Gospel of Thomas


I blink.

And realize…

the fountain I've been standing in front of is empty.

Always has been…

unbeknownst to me.

I grieve the water of this life I thought I knew.  The water that never was.

I stumble backward…. afraid … is everything not as it was?

And I fall.

Splash.

Into the deep well of Spirit and Life and Breath and Love

right here.  Inside me.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Jesus says,

O Lord,

Many have gathered around the fountain,

but there is nothing in the well.

(Logion 74)

The Burglars

A poem in response to Logion 21b from the Gospel of Thomas:


I jump at the sound.

My heart quickens.

They burrow in from underneath

seemingly innocent and necessary

-- approval, esteem, power, control, survival, security --

but soon their sharp yellow eyes glow

and rob me of peace.


But wait…

their yellow eyes turn golden and kind... kittens curled on my lap… to be loved, accepted and noticed within this deeper river of life.

Awake, O Soul.

Keep watch.  And wake.

Come, Lord Jesus.

[Jesus says,]

So then, I must also tell you this:

if the master of a household

realizes that a thief is coming,

he will keep watch before he gets there

to prevent him from tunneling into his domain

and stealing his possessions. So from

the beginning of the cosmos, therefore,

you must also keep watch,

binding great power to yourselves,

so that thieves cannot find a way

to get to you. Any outside help

you look for they will try to seize first.

May there be someone among you

who truly understands this.

(Logion 21b)

The Unveiling

A poem, of sorts, in response to Logion 113 from the Gospel of Thomas:


As a bride's veil is lifted -- uncovering the haze before her eyes --

She sees in brighter colors and sharper form.

Ah.  Here is the One in front of me.

The apocalypse.

             The unveiling.

It is the moment she "steps fully into the Now"

Eyes open.      Mystery wide.

Dipping her fingers into the wide yawn of Life.

The awakening.

Come, Lord Jesus.


His students asked him, 
"On what day will the kingdom arrive?" 
"Its coming cannot be perceived 
from the outside," he said. 
"You cannot say, 
'Look, it's over there,' or 
'No, here it is.' 
The Father's realm 
Is spreading out 
Across the face of the earth, 
And humanity is not able 
To perceive it." 
(Logion 113, Gospel of Thomas)

Unfurl

A poem in response to Logion 28 from the Gospel of Thomas

I am curled up in a ball. Tight. Wound in on myself.
Drunk on living the way everyone wants me to live. Being who is expected of me. The good girl. Making everyone happy.

And then…

          It happens.

I begin to uncurl… unfurl.. and stand. Like a seedling emerging from its seed tomb.

I awaken and shed my old dragon skin.

The fear can no longer control me.

I stand

          and turn…

  open to the wind and whisper of Yeshua's breath.

Yeshua says,

I stood to my feet

In the midst of the cosmos,

Appearing outwardly in flesh.

I discovered that all were drunk

And none were thirsty,

And my soul ached for

The children of humanity.

For their hearts are blind

And they cannot see from within.

They have come into the cosmos empty

And they are leaving it empty.

At the moment they are drunk,

But when they rid themselves of their wine,

They too will turn and stand.

(Logion 28)