Humility
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Temporary Homeless Shelter
I live in a condo,with heat in the winter,and hot water (most of the time),and a comfortable bed (beginning to sag),but ultimatelyit's fate, luck, the grace of Godthat keeps me here. I don't deserve this,any more than the people in… Continue reading
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The Courage of the Seed
"You only need," the angel said,"the courage of the seedto become divine." "The courage of the seed?"I asked. "The seed knows not what it will become,needs only welcome moisture and warmthto grow into itself–you need only surrenderto become mighty." Text… Continue reading
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The Deeper, Truer Reality
At timesthe evil in the world overwhelms me. I stand in awe of thosewho continue to stand in hope. I know hope comes from deeper truth,but that deep truthcan be so obscured,so pressed down,so weightedby greed, fear, alienation and hate,so… Continue reading
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You Are Here
Identity is transitory.The labels we useto draw boundariesaround our fragile egos(self-sufficient, faithful, husband, mother,employee, believer, athlete, friend…)can change in an instant.Nothing is fixed; all is in flux. When we wish it to be otherwise–for all to stay the same–we court unhappiness.… Continue reading
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On the Sixth Day of Christmas
If he's just arrived,isn't this when he needs us most–this neonate, this babe,so fragile, so absolutely dependent? Shouldn't we get the place ready,clean things up a bit,replace alienation with reconciliation,suspicion with trust,and greed with grace? He came in 2009,and we… Continue reading
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“The Least Conspicuous Miracles”
Photographer Robert Adamsencourages us to walkat "a pace that allows regardfor the least conspicuous miracles."He urges us to develop"a kind of friendship with things." I wish I'd written those lines;I hear the poet within the photographer. And indeed, Adam's photographycaptures those least… Continue reading
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My Soul
My soulis a temple in ruins.Where thousands once worshippedonly the common starlings–black against the cracked white marble–pace and peck for seeds. Only a soul in ruinsallows in, without constraint,the sun, rain and wind,the incense of pines,the glow of yellow daffodils,the… Continue reading
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Advent 16
Every Christmasthe angel Gabrielreturns to earthbringing a revelatory visionto another of earth's wanderers.As with Mary,he hopes for brave surrender,for another holy "Yes." What if this Christmashe chooses you?From what fearful depthwill you answer?And how? Text and image © 2011 by Dirk… Continue reading
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Advent 13
All our liveswe pursue the limitless Knower,the immense Unknown,the One to whom belongsall true knowing,simply(little selves)to know that we are known. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Advent 12
"You're pregnant," says Gabriel,forcing Mary–unsuspecting teenager–to plunge deeper than ever before(we would assume)soulward for some placeto ground this unfathomable annuciation. Today, what say the angels to youthat turns you inwardto drag out unimagined resourceshidden deep in your own battered soul?… Continue reading