The 60-Second Sabbath

faith

  • Convergence

    In the center of the villageseven dusty paths converge. An old man livesin a thatched hut that standsjust to the West. He watches and listensas each travelercompletes the journey. Older than the forest,more patient than the ocean,more stately than cranes,he… Continue reading

  • Life is the strugglebetween Ego and Stillness. Chin up, my friend:Stillness wins. Or more precisely,only Stillness is.  Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Sermon in the Park, Part 2

    The homeless guys,with their parked shopping cartsand scraggly, gray beards,nod as he speaks. "You can cling to the cross,with its dried blood and splinters,or you can come dancing with me." I feel safestwith my face pressed against rough wood,cheeks bleeding.When… Continue reading

  • Sermon in the Park, Part 1

    "That whole eye-for-an-eye,    tooth-for-a-tooth thing?That's crap–    always has been.It never was a part of the plan." He speaks,    as he loves to do,to friends and supporters    gathered at the parkon a warm summer evening    close… Continue reading

  • Divergence

    In the center of the village    seven dusty paths diverge. An old woman lives    in a cottage that stands    just to the East.She watches and listens    as each traveler    begins the journey.Old as the sea,    wise as the mountains,    beautiful as songbirds at sunrise,she watches and listens.… Continue reading

  • That Which Remains Buried

    I live withthe nagging feelingthat there remainsburied within me(not far from the surface–like a hastily interred body,in a dollar-store grave)something I thoughtwas dead,that wants–nay, needs–to come out,not to resurrect,but to be given a proper burial. Whatever the identityof this corpse,it's… Continue reading

  • Homecoming

    My dear brotherstands in the kitchenwith his brand new brideand her three beautiful children,faces the horrid awkwardnessof my fatherwho is rooted in the hallway beyond,where he appears to be glued to the floor,stuck in a morass of religious allegiancedespite the… Continue reading

  • The Burning Bush

    I am the burning bush,engulfed in flame,but not consumed. I am the burning bush,scorched by cruel circumstance,but not destroyed. I am the burning bush,charred by soul-lost longing,but not devoured. I am the burning bush,beckoning in the desert sun,God's voice, unheeded.… Continue reading

  • The Slippery Slope

    "Fear not!"announced the angel."Fear not the slippery slope!Strap on those skisand ride." Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Lacking Scarcity

    There isenough. I amenough. I live as ifthere isn't enough:    not enough time,    not enough money,    not enough sleep,    not enough room,    not enough accomplished… But there is alwaysenough. And I am alwaysenough. Text and… Continue reading