Bound in Love
In an instant holy marriage transcends time and space
True vows bind self to self to forever, with God’s grace
Ecclesiastic witnessed, professed commitment and hope
Hearts bound to each in love and faith with spiritual rope
From fiber twisted to cord from its three separate strands
Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, connect to man
Braid through these two hearts, two souls to couple as one
Love knots tied with trust and desire, tighter they become
In tender moments, in life’s ups and down, love in everything
Children raised, fibers entwine, yet given free willed wings
Joy in marriage with love of God morphs soft rope to steel
Transformed in time, in kindness, in peace, this love real
Rope to cable, two hearts to one, love now twice as strong
Outward it moves beyond their needs, love that lasts lifelong
Touching others in their path, interior glow glistens bright
Divine threads mingle with their souls, held in glorious light
Grace spliced in, their destiny now sure, nothing can untie
Joy contagious, filling hearts, this union reaches to the sky
They, now beyond the here we know, embraced by all infinity
Among angels and saintly souls, sending love towards humanity
Throughout my life, I have had a profound imagination that seems heightened when I pray. While on a retreat weekend, I had such a moment during deep prayer and thanksgiving to my wife for all she is to me. In this particular moment, I envisioned two hearts bound together in a time-lapse sort of way with a stronger and stronger rope until a heavenly type made it impossible to take apart.
When my wife went on a similar retreat, I told her this story in a letter. A few months later, I put my thoughts into poetry. A number of months afterward, while on a day-long men’s retreat, I walked by a vendor’s booth of religious items. Right in front of me was a simple lapel pin tying Jesus’ heart together with His mother, Mary. I had no choice but to purchase one for myself and one for my wife.
I sometimes tie original Atlantic Salmon flies inspired by the moment. An identical duplicate side to this fly cannot be seen, yet it yields a heart if laid side by side. All the materials are bound together as one with silk thread and floss. These Salmon Flies are meant to attenuate the materials used and are not designed to fish with. I have given dozens of these flies away in a Christian sign of friendship and love. I never tell the other person how hard it may have been to find and source materials from naturally expired and renewable sources, how long they took to make them, or what prayers were said during the construction. I feel comfortable and humbled to make this statement from the point of view of the basket being lifted to show Christ’s light. I gave this precious fly to my wife on Valentine’s Day that year.
For further reflection: Familiaris Consortio of Pope John Paul II to the Episcopate, to the Clergy and to the faithful of the whole Catholic Church on the role of the Christian family in the modern world.
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This poem is included in the collection of 40 poems in the category of A Moment for Christ within the Immersive Prayer website is also available in book form on Amazon in Paperback or  . All Proceeds go to Charity. |
Additional Thoughts
This site has written permission from New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) to use Bible passages.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.