Devotional/Meditation Poetry

The Bible encourages believers to meditate (throughout the Psalms, once in the book of Joshua, and

once in Paul's letter to the Philippians.) Don't assume I'm writing about Eastern mysticism or repetitive chants. I am writing about contemplation. Evangelicals tend to define Biblical meditation as Bible study. Anglicans and Catholics define Christian meditation differently. For them meditation is more like contemplation, like on Christ's crucifixion, or the depravity of a person's sin. Some of the followers of these traditions would write poetry to further their devotion to God, hence the name "devotional poetry."

This semester I'm taking a class on four poets who wrote devotional poetry: John Donne, Christina Rossetti, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and George Herbert.  Since all of these poets once lived in England, I thought writing a devotional poem would be a fitting prelude to my trip. It'll be an attempt at a devotional poem, anyway.

And Deliver Us From Temptation

I worry. You provide bread from heaven. 

You stomach ached until it went numb,

but Satan's honey words did not touch Your lips.

You knew where he harvested them:

from a rotting carcass of a King.

You know that despite Satan's reign over

this world,

He had no power over You.

He could make kingdoms rise;

He could make them fall,

but only with Your permission. 

Once he separated You from Your Father:

the greatest divorce Earth had ever seen. 

Even then, You could have put at stop to it,

but You had planned a wedding.

You proposed on Mount Sinai,

but you made Mount Moriah Your altar.

You took a bride, and gave her a dress

whiter than the clouds. 

You gave her a ring of life

that would rest eternally on her hand. 

You shed Your own blood for wine,

and broke Your own body for bread.

You gave up Your spirit 

so that we might have Yours.

You carried over the threshold

every sin that was, 

every sin that is,

and every sin yet to come.

You bore them into Hell,

and drowned them in a burning lake.

You found your bride in a garden,

perhaps the same she ran from,

and one day You will find her again.

Though I wasn't able to go to church this morning because of unusual circumstances, I did get to fellowship with God through writing this poem. I'm not entirely sure if it took me to a higher plane or anything like that, but it did leave me in awe of God. Maybe those "high church" people are on to something. I don't think I'll make it a habit though, as that would most likely defeat the purpose. 

(Psst! If you think you might be into the whole poetry thing, you should check out my other blog! )