A Cornucopia of Poems in Celebration of Autumn: Beginning with “God’s World”

By Carolyn Weber on October 25, 2012 in Poetry with 7 Comments

Part One in the Series

Over the next few weeks, I wish to share and briefly comment upon some of my favourite poems for this time of year.

Following my fifteenth wedding anniversary, I am reminded why my husband and I chose this time of year to each be bound before God to our beloved. Autumn offers the season of fruitfulness; its palette is warm and its scents are intense. It marks a season of storehousing hope, of looking both backward and forward, of owning and reaping the fruits of faith.

Autumn takes the last streams of light into the growing dark. It speaks of promises fulfilled and yet also of preparing for the future, as we satiate ourselves with trust as the winds grow colder.

All this considered, then, here is my opening choice for the series: a beautiful poem entitled “God’s World” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Why did I choose this poem? Because I love how it captures the awe at God’s grandeur in the world about us. How it settles, like leaves spiraling from trees, from burst of exclamation mark to the period of hallowed peace.

It speaks of having been struck dumb by a poignancy so sharp as to pierce us like a passion. And so it glows with the immensity of both the fruitfulness and the pause that the autumnal season brings in its golden glory between the verdant burst of spring that hazes into summer, and the whitening wait of winter.

Awe has its roots in fear and admiration. Fear of the Lord is the seed of wisdom, so Scripture reminds us. We are right to fear His artistry, around and within us. May you be struck by these words as I have been, and carry them into your heart as sustenance for winters ahead. A poem about attempting to speak the unspeakable, it is … about our being in our world, this world of God’s making:

GOD’S WORLD
by Edna St. Vincent Millay

O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!
Thy winds, thy wide grey skies!
Thy mists that roll and rise!
Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag
And all but cry with colour! That gaunt crag
To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff!
World, World, I cannot get thee close enough!
Long have I known a glory in it all,
But never knew I this;
Here such a passion is
As stretcheth me apart. Lord, I do fear
Thou’st made the world too beautiful this year.
My soul is all but out of me, let fall
No burning leaf; prithee, let no bird call.

Testing or Trusting?: Psalm 138, a Dash of James, and Postpartum Peace

By Carolyn Weber on October 13, 2012 in Living with 15 Comments

TrustBefore I move back into the realm of literature, I felt compelled to share one more psalm. This one came to my attention as I made the rest of my way through the Psalter in a kind of path toward recovery.  It is Psalm 138, which sang out as a rejoinder to my earlier draw upon Psalm 20:

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Why Things that Matter Most Must be Written in Blood

By Carolyn Weber on October 4, 2012 in Living with 30 Comments

I believe it was Red Smith who reportedly said it’s really very easy to be a writer – all you have to do is sit down at the typewriter and open a vein.

I often would think of this line when I sat down to write. But now I think of it differently, too, in relation to our God as Author of All.

Before I was a Christian, I used to be really bothered by Christianity’s associations with blood.  Such phrases as “He shed His blood for you,” and “by His blood we are washed clean” made me cringe as literal images of being immersed in bloody bathtubs came to mind.  It all seemed very Carrie to me (if you are as old as me and remember well the 1970’s cult classic film based on Stephen King’s novel).

In fact, just strolling past the “Precious Blood” monastery made me shudder. This blood as recompense thing … this human sacrifice to somehow appease an angry God … well it all seemed a tad bit gothic, if you asked me.

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PSALM 20 AND DELIVERANCE

By Carolyn Weber on September 20, 2012 in Living, Reading with 15 Comments

Thanks for Praying

Kent and I wish to thank all of you who have shared so wholeheartedly in our recent baby joy. We appreciate every comment, email, note, offer of help and congratulations. What a privilege to be in this God adventure together!

As a gesture of my gratitude, and an extension of how God’s Word does indeed speak to our daily needs in very relevant ways, I wanted to share Psalm 20 with you during this “babymoon” season. A friend of mine who had been raised Jewish and then later converted to Christianity brought it to my attention just before I had our son. She explained how this particular psalm has been traditionally repeated by the parents during delivery. Once I revisited Psalm 20, I could see why. I was particularly moved by its timeliness in calling out to our Lord in our distress, and in trusting that He desires to give us, in turn, the desires of our own hearts. I ended up meditating upon it during my delivery, in fact (as much as one can meditate upon something at such a time!) and found it to bring about great power, focus and comfort. I never cease to be surprised at how Scripture feeds our souls: that it really is like accessing a mysterious power that is difficult to put into words, and entirely unrivalled.

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TeamWeber Welcomes Pivotal 6th Man

By Carolyn Weber on September 4, 2012 in Living with 46 Comments

Team Weber, #6

Jersey King

I will no doubt be returning to the miracle of birth in future reflections.  But in short, for the moment, what a perfect day we enjoyed.  “Easy” almost never applies to birth (or re-birth), but the rewards are heavenly.   My husband penned something similar for each of our arrivals.  I laughed too hard not to share it here.   Thank you for rejoicing with us.   – Carolyn

Guest Poster:  The Husband

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

After a full 41 weeks of successful labor negotiations, TeamWeber has finally delivered!

Prayerful King

(London, Ontario CANADA) – September 3, 2012 – TeamWeber announced today the arrival of its long-awaited 6th man.  Kingsley Charles Weber arrived in suite on Labour Day at 4:39pm amidst cheers, tears and flash bulbs, with a guaranteed 18-year no-trade contract.  Delivering on loooong expectations, the newest Weber measured a lanky 22” and tipped the scales at a fit but sturdy 9lbs 6 ozs.  Doctors gave him a clean pass on the full physical and cleared Kingsley to start running with the Team in about 8 months. TeamWeber will take the full 8 months to prepare. Continue Reading…

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