Finding highs
in my lows
Where is the learning
growing edge
from the hard places
in my life?
What is pushing up
from the dark
clotted earth
to the light of the sun?
Where is the true
beautiful self
sloughing off
the grave-clothes?
(c) 2018 Julie Clark
In our exhaustion
Resources of love and patience
Run low
Small things take on large proportion
Sending us spiraling down
An open door for dark forces
To exploit our weakness
Yet, also a perfect time
To see where we need growth
Opportunity for forces of light
To nudge us to transformation
Stop
Pay attention
Pray
What are you doing Abba?
Where are you relentlessly working
To free me from the prison
Of self?
© Julie Clark 2017
I.
We are given the raw materials
Of our lives
As on the First Day
Out of the chaos and void
Life began
What will we do with
The darkness and light
Will we separate it into a
Smooth transition of colors
As in a rainbow?
It will be anything
But smooth
Full of fits and starts
Smudges and blackouts
As if we can erase
The messes we have made
Yet stepping back
With the whole of life
In view
Of the one who falls
And is trampled under foot
Yet rises again
Painfully struggling
Forward
Into the light
Into the Love
That calls each by name
We see
The darkness is part of the canvas
Entwined with the light
Creating patterns and contrasts
Always erupting in colors at the end
The struggle of life emerging
If we only focused on
The fire scarred trunk
And did not step back
We would miss
The strength and substance
Of the ancient tree
Still green in all seasons
II.
The artist
The gardener
The teacher
The builder
The writer
The dancer
The musician
All participating in
Taking the chaos
And creating something
Useful or
Something just
Beautiful
Adding to the
life that began
When the light
Was separated from the darkness
© 2016 Julie Clark
The earth had been defiled. A young couple had attempted suicide in the park on a dark winter night. A few old growth cedar stumps anchored the path reminding us that ancient forces of life have been here a lot longer than we and our people. Our ranger friend lead us up the path and then off the path, bushwhacking down to a spot under a cedar tree. He had asked earlier if we would come and help cleanse the area.
That dark winter night one person had second thoughts, and called 911 on a cell phone with a fading battery. It was enough for the first responders to know generally where they were. Attempts to return the call failed, but they set out with a Search and Rescue dog. One group came in from the top of the park and another from the bottom. The rangers house was at the bottom. They knocked on the door and were able to get the Ranger couple’s help since they are the caretakers of this land and know it better than anyone else. Eventually the couple was found, thanks to the efforts of all, including the dog who was able to locate them. They were evacuated and taken to a local hospital with life threatening wounds. Later, word got back to the rangers that they survived.
When we got to the spot, Psalm 24:1 was read: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. The world and all it’s people belong to him.”
We prayed for the young people who came to this place so desperate. We gave thanks that their lives were spared, that the forces of life were stronger than those of death that night. We understood that because they came to the park, they were able to be rescued. If they had gone somewhere else that may not have been the case.
We took pure water from a spring that bubbles up near the path then joins the creek that runs through the park. We poured the water out as a symbol of life and cleansing. We prayed the water would be cleansing to the earth and renew it along with the gentle rain and our prayers.
We ended the ceremony with this Celtic prayer:
In time of sorrow:
May you see God’s light on the path ahead,
when the road you walk is dark
May you always hear, even in your hours of sorrow
the gently singing of the lark
When times are hard may hardness never
turn your heart to stone
May you always remember when the shadows fall
you are not alone
Walking back to the bottom of the trail where our cars were parked we noticed the sun’s setting light in the tops of the trees and remembered the first stanza of the prayer: “May you see God’s light on the path ahead, when the road you walk is dark”. We talked about the Japanese and Korean custom of “Forest Bathing”. It is a walk in a forest as a way of relaxing and managing stress, while breathing in the healing aromas of the forest. This whole experience was indeed cleansing for both the land and our souls.
Fog is besetting us
like a great horde covering the steppes
it has settled in for days
the more sensitive among us
are succumbing to a dark mood
today there is a dripping mist
hardly detected
but all is wet
lawn, house, tree and fence
a sign perhaps
this fell fog will eventually
dissipate and leave us free
from it’s clinging clutches
Fog and Fear
You wonder why fog brings a chill to my spine
there was a time I went for a walk by myself in the fog
I was young and needed some exercise
walking is good exercise
but maybe not the best for a young girl in the fog
from behind came one with evil intent
at his touch I wheeled and rebuked him
in the Mighty Name
he fled back into the mist
but still the dread and chill linger with this fog
The Cure
Begins with a walk with a strong son
no matter the fog with this cheery companion
the next day
escape to the Island
catch a ferry to carry you away
to the great rain shadow
where cloud and fog dissipate
in the afternoon sun
warming your face
the distant shore
clouded and shrouded
but you have blue skies
and gulls screeching
to gladden your heart
the fog itself is not fell
just the lingering memory
that heals when viewed
and shaken out
like a dusty rug
in the sunlight
© 2013 Julie Clark
It is painful when I trip
Over my blind spots
They show up this way
In the dark
It is only through
The pain
That they get
My attention
Now I know
It is time to grow
Again
© 2013 Julie Clark
It is dark and gloomy outside,
And inside for some of us.
This is my third Christmas back,
And I think I am finally getting it, about all the Christmas lights.
We need light!
We crave light!
It reminds us that there is hope,
That we will not be consumed.
It is our stand against this encroaching darkness.
Yet, somehow this darkness is our teacher.
Slow down, relax, build a fire, eat some soup, sleep,
Give way to this season of life.
Waiting is not giving up, it is an inside growing and maturing.
It is where hope gives birth to faith.
I am reminded of another search for light.
It’s about a people walking in darkness who saw a great light.
It’s about a star pointing the way on a very dark night in a very dark time.
This light is still shining and making a home in us,
Until, we are a City on a Hill,
Shining brightly and giving light for all to see.
I am also reminded to look for the light in others.
It is there!
We are all image bearers of God.
We all have light sides and dark sides.
Can we search, as in a treasure hunt, for the diamonds in others?
When all around is so dark,
It is time to shine for others who are struggling in their battles with the darkness.
It is time to lend a little more light to them.
Use our good deeds: our hands, our feet, our ears,
Our words of encouragement, and even our money.
Whichever way we shine the best.
© 2011 Julie Clark
Backfromtheborderlands's Blog 