The 60-Second Sabbath

Loss

  • Abandonment

    Many of us find great comfortin the assurance that God will never abandon us,but let's examine the record here:she did abandon her only Child,whose chillingly anguished cryfrom the cross to which she was nailed–"My God, my God, why have you… Continue reading

  • The Poetry Group

    "May I point something out?"she asked,fingering the fringe on the pillow's edge,her feet curled beneath her in the corner of the couch.She'd been silent thus faras the others–with great intensity–critically dissected a poem written by another member.Her small voice startled… Continue reading

  • I Will Crush You

    "I will crush you like a fine china cup."This was the threat made to meoutside a barat 1:30 in the morningby a man twice my size,burly, muscled, not particularly well-groomed. My mind works fairly quickly–I wasn't seeing my life flashing… Continue reading

  • Jacob

    What if Jacob,sleeping that night in the desert,running in desperation from his deceit and dishonor,had slept with a pistolstashed beneath his stony pillow? What if,suddenly attacked by the angel(or God or whatever–it's left deliciously vague),Jacob had pulled out his gunand… Continue reading

  • Misplacing My Heart

    Once again,I have misplaced my heart.Did I leave it on the bar at the Tipsy Parson?in the pew at church?in the hotel room on my last business trip? I risk it for greed,for the possibility of love,for the need to… Continue reading

  • For This We Yearn

    "Listen to me!" It is for this we yearn, yes? "See me!" It is for this we yearn, yes? "I matter!" It is for this we yearn, yes? And even those of us–the published,the sought after,the elected, selected, sanctioned–we all… Continue reading

  • The Next Rise

    "Over the next riselies the summit":This I tell myself daily. Yet after each rise,rises yet another,and after that,another. My legs falter.My will weakens.  Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.    Continue reading

  • The Dresser

    The dresser(in which reside my underwear and socks)is an antique,formerly owned by my sister(now deceased). Sometimes at night,with only a candle burning,I wish with all my heartto see her in the flecked, speckled mirror,to observe her pulling back her hair,putting… Continue reading

  • Try Getting Lost

    Searching for a spiritual discipline?Try getting lost:visit a strange city,leave your baggage at your hotel and start walking.Drift left, veer right,turn toward what distracts you.Nod at people you pass;imagine their lives–as rich and confusing as your own.Say, "Hey, pup!" to curious… Continue reading

  • My Mystery

    Blind me,that I may see.Deafen me,that I may hear.Mute me,that I may whisper your name. What must I loseto unite with you, my Mystery? Text, image and audio © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  To listen to this… Continue reading