He comes near, able to touch, to be touched, and be wounded, to kiss and to be kissed: the grateful kiss, the sleepy child dismiss- ing himself to sleep; the mother’s kiss, a smudge on freshly-bathed cheek; the plotter’s grudge expressed in the curl of doubled lips, the final, false farewell, the fatal tryst. He comesContinue reading “20 Contemplations #15: Intimacy”
Tag Archives: love
Catechism 51
Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension? Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends us his Spirit. (New City Catechism) Not waiting in vain, menContinue reading “Catechism 51”
Northbound at dusk
Jeffrey Smart painted this dying day: burnt orange in floating smokestack steam, needle-lights stretching in fluorescent dream, the sojourn of light sinking in silent sway. Daytime paints its canopy away and minutes pass in inches as we glean each moment, weigh each instant gram by gram. Apologies buy flowers; much to say, yet time isContinue reading “Northbound at dusk”
Nazarene
“We can only silence the guns of hatred with the guns of love.” – Nigerian church leader, quoted in Open Doors prayer letter I am broken in my love: I cry, I steal, I hurt, I hate. My heart has guns which fire and kill and I am daily killed. I do not understand my friend;Continue reading “Nazarene”
Hospitality
Well, poems have been few and far between at The Consolations of Writing recently, mostly because – I must admit – I’ve been slightly distracted by my recent engagement to an absolutely wonderful girl, Hannah. This week I have distractions of another kind: a week-long, short-term mission in my own city, Melbourne. Today’s poem isContinue reading “Hospitality”
“August Sabbath”, and eight years of poetry
Eight years ago today, I began writing poetry. It was a beautiful spring day – the promise of things to come. But, as is so often the case at the end of a Melbourne winter, the spring was fragile. Cool weather could return at any moment and snap up the new growth. I was aboutContinue reading ““August Sabbath”, and eight years of poetry”
Apology
If perhaps in sullen days I might slide back to where I fell, a child, into the dark, please wait with me as slowly I am brought again into the light. Your love has brought the truth to bear in silent corners, back- rooms where thick lies have festered in the dark. AlthoughContinue reading “Apology”
Psalm 131: Humility and Submission
Yesterday I posted a poem based on the beautiful Psalm 131. It is one of the shortest psalms in the Bible, yet one which I have found particularly comforting at times of emotional and psychological distress. Today I am posting a recording I have made of a new musical setting of Isaac Watts’ hymn basedContinue reading “Psalm 131: Humility and Submission”
Love to the End
My king, the heavens were your throne, your seat. The task beneath us, we shuffled in our pride; All things beneath you, you God washed our feet. Undignified, so lowly, indiscrete! What, Rabbi, wash our feet? we all decried. My king, the heavens were your throne, your seat… With thrones to claim and enemies toContinue reading “Love to the End”
Lent 38: Friday of Fifth Week
Look: see the woman with her oil and hair; see His feet (they’re not yet scarred); see the gasp upon your face; see His searching eyes. Listen: He spoke to you of the Son of Man; He spoke of death and burial; He spoke of Passover, exodus; He spoke; you did not hear. Learn: HeContinue reading “Lent 38: Friday of Fifth Week”
The Consolations of Writing 