Our Father

Pleas read with care

1.

Our Father

Our Father �"

The beginning,

Gathering.

Creation.

In the beginning there was language

Light, darkness.

Outside gull

Calling across vastness

Of Autumnal sky

Heavy with rain,

Dark as dead time

“Spirit moves on the face of the waters”

Hint of cold yet, all

Is well. That first light �"

Coming together in innocence

“And I will gather you

As a mother…”

Who heard your first breath?

Meaning, purpose

Birthed from

Chaos

And

E

M

P

T

I

N

E

S

S.

What is the meaning of meaning?

In the beginning language

Describing my reality

Meaning merges into truth

What is truth?

Jesus never answered

The head of state…

Still the state has

No idea…

Your peace,

your wholeness

Offered with gift of yourself

Remembered at your

Final Meal

“Take, Eat…”

How wide is the

Distance between

Taking and accepting…

Priest of love in truth…

Love outside of

Truth is fire without light…

You were betrayed

In the endless thrust

Of a false kiss…

Judas of many forms

Your shadow still

Permeates all

Of history…

In Heaven �"

We shall sit

Where table awaits.

No more pain,

No weeping.

Heart of transcendence

Is true

Divine abiding

Where love in

Truth lives eternal.

Those gathered now

Stand again forever.

A step to heaven

So often is

Finding myself

Fragile strand in

The web of life.

Frail candle flickering

In darkness, I am

Feeling fear as a

Naked winter tree

Has sense of reaching out

With contorted branches.

I seek you,

I can find you

My blessed peacemaker

Light of the world

Illumining path to peace with me.

Leave us not when in temptation �"

Frail,

Easily broken

As fallen autumn leaf.

Hearing, seeing ways

Into person-consuming darkness

Apart, alienated from daily

Flurry, end of isolation

Easily seen, seldom felt.

2.

Leave not, guide, deliver

End of all loneliness,

Light to desolate secret

Places of the heart.

Indeed, there is so much evil

Seeking for peace with the self

Which grows from peace with you.

Deliver from every evil,

Lead to everlasting light.

In shadow �"

Good shepherd

Still leading where

My vision is hurt

And fragmentary

Bringing me back

From the edge

Where I walked,

Where I sat down,

Where my time

Was not yet appointed.

I have known

The clinging cloak

Of suicide.

Then, on my road,

Met stranger known in

“Pannis Angelicus”

Bread of angels

Broken for even me.

Out of the depths

Have I truly cried,

I am heard, now

Begins my journey home.

Give us this day �"

This day, moment

Now turning

Where path of shadow

Is a teacher, if we

Allow. Here the

Holy Shepherd

Seeks even me.

Natures loved ones

Carry on

Showing treasures

Lining the way

To the only peace.

Your name �"

Love beyond

Name, giving

Of self.

Going to

Such pain,

3.

Loneliness beyond any

I could know.

Your name

Blessed place

Where loved ones

Rest forever.

Me as just me

Loved for ever

In holy light.

Your will �"

Be alive

In this piece

Of earth

As in heaven.

You my refuge

My hope dwelling

Where that hope distantly

Waves like an

Innocent child

Continuously coming

Close to where I wait.

And you shall lead �"

In your holy

Quiet

On to fountain

Of living

Water

Peace.

No more tears,

No distress.

Light of life

Illumine the path

Resting on treasures

Lining the way.

Thou art with me �"

End of loneliness,

Of desertion.

Together united

In allowing

True space.

Bringer of

True nourishment

Helps the hurting

To be human again.

And forgive -

Breathing out my darkness,

Casting away cloak of cold shadow,

Seeking to be forgiven

4.

Precious healing linked with letting go

Yes, just as I am, I indeed come

Also needing self-forgiveness.

Perhaps signpost toward peace

With mystery of me

I can forgive you too, ask you…

Seek the path of blessing yet

Notice the treasures along the way

No need to entreat you not to leave,

Always move onward

To gathering and peace.

Your Father that sees in secret �"

You see

My secret places

Knows my longing,

My need, I am gathered

Like a frightened child,

Held close, am precious now,

Places of my heart

Only he sees

Sanctified now knowing

Love shall never die.

Dear ones in the

Cloud of witness go

On living forever in holy joy.

When you pray �"

Listen,

To the voice of

Longing, know

Holy love in truth.

“Many waters cannot

Quench love, neither can

The floods drown it.”

Come, as you are,

Know I am here

Be still and know

“I am the good shepherd.”

Be near in my temptation �"

Seek me then

With your comfort

Yet, may I see you

Even when

Other light

Illumines a path

Away, be compassion

In truth, one-ness,

Just as I am

5.

Again in stillness

To knowing you,

Peace with you

My saviour and true friend.

Deliver from evil �"

Find mystery

Of me

Alone on

Path leading to

End of self.

Clothed in

Nakedness of pretext

Where no real safety is.

Longings, fears,

As lost sheep

Are gathered

Hearing me whisper

“May I and all I

Love truly stand again”

Here, start of new

Life in truth.

In the beginning was listening.

“… a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm.”

Heart �"

In my heart secret places

Known only and forever

To those who could and should know.

Loved ones know a personal

Resurrection here, stand again

Here, prelude to heaven

Where your holy light bathes

Our true selves, we can live forever.

Death is passing to the holy life,

Death is a wise and noble friend.

Compassion encountered on the way

Who finds me and takes me home.

In holy light no sickness is, no tears,

Sealed with gift of your true self

In love beyond all words and feeling.

Thine heart �"

Upon thine heart, gathered

In your arms lambs rest close

Safe with shepherd in dark valley.

No more want, curtain

Around me slowly rending asunder

Path slowly opens,

I can walk in peace

Where love casts out fear

Truly hallowed be your name.

“Where you lodge I will lodge.”

George Coombs