Rationale

A single ray meets the terrain

          breaking through the gloom…

 

… and Faith tugs my soul

 

When desolate shadows

render me hollow,

in the echoes I find comfort

 

Yes, I hear the skeptic,

          the cynic, the misanthrope,

          and reason behind the doubt…

 

Still, I seek,

and hope,

and praise

 

In ritual

          and ancient creed

          in sacrament and vow

 

Because,

the rent in the clouds

bears the promise of the Jordan…

 

           “My beloved…”

Author's Note

I am often asked how I can still have faith, being an educated person. I suppose to a skeptic, there is no rationale at all, but every time I see a ray of sunlight coming through a cloud, I am filled with awe, and think that there has to be something bigger than us...

Reviews

[icelandicblue]

I will quote a line from my favorite children's book, The Tale of Despereaux:

"Hope is a ridiculous, wonderful, powerful thing.

And often hope is entwined with faith. I really don't think anyone should have to justify their faith. Your poem is wonderful and I really like how you structured it.

[s y e]

That's an amazing book....

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Blue - Hope is indeed ridiculous, and wonderful...
Sorry for the delayed reply - I just saw this...

[m.s.early]

Such a senseless confusion of wonder befalls the skeptic that will never experience the euphoria of witnessing the true experience. Some people dump a pile of money into the search for the feeling that freely comes when the clouds part and the truth is filtered in a golden beam.

Haven't been around in a while. Glad to see you're still at it :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Faith is indeed both free and freeing... Thanks, X. Writer's block and work have been my companions these days, but I stop by regularly for inspiration. :)

[Jennifer Gladen]

Love your poem and your note as well. Even my third grade son looks at a sunbeam through the clouds and knows it is something more. I swear God speaks to us through nature. Sometimes it's the only way to get our attention.

[Rita L. Sev]

I often speak of nature as being God's voice when we will not hear Him any other way. Thanks!

[Ed Hart]

yea, though i walk through the valley...i can't tell you how many times those lines pulled me out of the deep...you are a walking lighthouse, my dear

[Rita L. Sev]

Ed, you are too kind... Thank you for "getting" this...

[Samuel Dickens]

Outstanding. My thoughts on the subject run much like yours, although I doubt I could ever express them as elegantly. I gave up on organized religion several years ago, but still believe very much in a divine creator.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Sam. I just cannot look on nature and NOT see something greater...

[Tate Morgan]

this was really nice to see from you

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Tate.

[David Scott]

I enjoyed your poetic expression of faith.
Hoestly, as a skeptic myself at times, I can only see the rational of understanding our known universe in the paradigm of a loving Creator...
It is the only solution that makes any sense...

[Rita L. Sev]

Yes, I agree David. I don't think any one religion knows all the answers, but I also fell that there just has to be something grander... Thank you.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

In ritual
and ancient creed
in sacrament and vow -- loved these lines.

This is the true definition of faith...believing in that which we do not see, but which we know to be true. We cannot rationalize these things, we can only believe or not. I think that there is so much beauty in the idea of believing in something. Well done.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Sarah. You are right - we cannot rationalize faith, but it is beautiful to hold...

[Michael G. Smith]

I think this is one of your best poems ever!! My wife and I are very strong Christians The testimony of the Lord is in everything we see.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Mike. I teach in a Catholic school, so faith and prayer is part of my work as well as my home life.

[Great Aunt Astri]

The structure of your poem acts to give it strength. This is a very powerful poem.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, GAA!