The 60-Second Sabbath

Mysticism

  • El Shaddai

    A choice today:ally yourself with hopeor with despair. On the back stoop of your lifewait two buckets–one filled with cat crapscooped from your heart's litter box,and the other filled with milk and creamfresh-squeezed from the aching udders of God. Why… Continue reading

  • Balaam’s Ass

    This morning,saddle up your heart's donkeyand let it take youwhere you fear to go. Expect a bumpy ride–you can't even imaginewhat you'll find–wasps, thorns, snakes and black flies,selfishness and murderous thoughts,parts you'd burned and buriedbut which still crawl,scarred and in… Continue reading

  • Sacred, Solitary Bliss

    Sacred, solitary bliss;everyday I dream of this;God and I in secret tryst,held suspended, lost in mist. Silent, solitary bliss;everyday I pray for this. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.    Continue reading

  • Take Me with You

    When was the last timeyou spent an hourin sacred bliss?When and where and how? Next time,take me with you. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  Continue reading

  • The Lord’s Prayer, Stanza 2

    We shall relate to youand to one another–with awe,with honor,with respect. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.   Continue reading

  • The Lord’s Prayer, Stanza 1

    Caring Onedwelling in heaven (yes, certainly),but more outstandingly here–between        within        among–you are ours(not mine, not anyone's specifically,but rather thoroughly, completely, all of)ourswithout proviso, clause or exception.  Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All… Continue reading

  • With No Offense

    With no offense meantto theologians or accountants: A theologiantrying to explain Godis like an accountanttrying to explain poetry. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. (Concept suggested by Wm. J. O'Malley.) Continue reading

  • Agua Eterna

    Our rules and regulationsdon't flow like pure waterfrom the tap of sacred scripture,but percolatethrough the filter and groundsof our sometimes appallingprivate reality. Why not exchangeour daily cupof shoulds and notsfor a few measured momentsdrinking deeply ofthe crystalline springof Agua Eterna?… Continue reading

  • Courage to Differ

    God grant methe courage to differ,to say "I disagree,"to question old precepts,to release past convictions,to see beyond scowls to good hearts within,to walk a seeking path hand-in-hand with the Beloved,to join the dance, to invite,to move on. Text and image… Continue reading

  • Playtime in the Garden of Eden

    The sun has not yet broken the Eastern horizon,but Eve is up and eager to play.Standing at the entrance to the cave, she asks,"What today? Tag? Hide and Seek?Kick the Cantelope?Pin the Tale on the Pterodactyl?" Adam groans, "So early?"… Continue reading