POETRY
"POETS WANT US TO RE-EXPERIENCE THE PRESENT WORLD UNDER A DIFFERENT SET OF METAPHORS AND THEY WANT US TO ENTERTAIN AND ALTERNATIVE WORLD NOT YET VISIBLE.” WALTER BRUEGGEMANN
THE SOUND OF SHEER SILENCE
The sound of sheer silence,
Fights to be heard amongst the clatter and clamour,
Still the battering fears,
The questions that scream,
The anguish that points and pokes,
And tries to suffocate my space,
Doubts that roar in the tumultuous wind,
Accusations that pierce my awareness fired by the storm,
Insecurities crashing in my head in the fall of a great river,
In the noise I hear no voice but my own,
My weak voice, my raw voice, my tired voice.
My voice bringing me down, destroying my confidence, prodding my wounds.
Stand, still.
Stand, still.
Stand, still.
Do not hear the storm, the wind, the rain.
Hear instead the sound of sheer silence.
Hear the voice in peace,
Hear the voice of peace,
Hear the voice… peace.
BLESSED ARE THE SURVIVORS
Blessed are the survivors, those who drag themselves out of bed each morning and just because they have to. For they show true heart and guts and they will know admiration.
Blessed are the bruised, those who carry the scars and wounds inflicted by the jealous and the angry and yet keep going. For they will leave their attackers behind them and find clear road ahead.
Blessed are the strugglers, those who fight each day to shake of their doubts and fears just to give themselves a chance to breathe. For they will draw deep on their true spirit and will feel the touch of the divine.
Blessed are those who set their face to the future in desperate hope and determination, for they will know themselves and they are seen and known and loved.
"Safe Space is a new missional community in Telford , England that gathers around the meal table. These liturgies penned by Mark Berry come from around that meal table. they are wonderfully creative and sharply focused around mission. If you share in them you are likely to be caught up in the challenge of St Brendan who has inspired the community to set sail with God in mission."
"Two leading practitioners of new monasticism open up the movement’s spiritual landscape and its distinctive calling and gifts within today’s church. Practical experiences and stories are set alongside reflection and liturgies as a creative resource for all who are already involved in, or are exploring intentional living in community."
“Full of vision and ways of practising it. In it are many seeds that could be sown in any local part of the Church. It presents a challenge that those who lead communities and their worship should heed.” Canon David Adam
Sarah Ban Breathnach
“The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers but above all the world needs dreamers who do.”
