The 60-Second Sabbath

angel

  • Christmas Cozy

    I told himthat each year at ChristmasI like to read Christmas stories and Christmas poems. He said,"No one does Christmas cozy like Dirk!" And I thought of the story by Dickens I'd just read,about poverty and injustice in 19th-century London.I… 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

  • Go Within

    "Go within." But I am afraid. "I would be too,given what you're likely to find." That's not helping. "Go within." Hold my hand,and I shall go. "I will,but I know from experience,that you will release itat soon as you realizethat… Continue reading

  • Jacob and the Angel

    "I'm a pacifist,"said Jacob,when the angel showed upin his Spandex and mask."I won't fight you." Ignoring this,the angel grabbed Jacob around the waistand threw him to the ground. Jacob went limp."I won't fight you," he repeated."What part of this don't… Continue reading

  • The Flu

    Let's say you have the fluand a fever of 104: While you sleep, fitfully,twisting and sweating,an angel appearsand unravels visionspatched together from your pastand borrowed from your future. Who's to say whether your illnessprovides a doorway to truthful, hidden depthsor… Continue reading

  • 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

  • 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

  • Impossibilities

    Gabriel appears to Mary,scans her heart,scares the bejesus into her.She drops the mending,the basket of eggs,the water jug,the familiar, known and comfortable.Reaching back…back…back into their shared story,this shattering, shimmering apparition speaks:"We can't do this. God can."…and Mary's heart and womb… Continue reading