Thorns Around Your Heart
Are those thorns around your heart a fortress for that within
Or do you wear them as a crown as Jesus did, for our sins
You might think your thorns will keep you safely enshrined
But instead they invite self to further seek, to hide behind
Thorns around your hardened heart yield hate not healed
When thorns lash outward towards others instead of shield
Silent prayers of thousands reach in hope towards this dread
Lord, feel my tears join with theirs in a river to end bloodshed
Melt these thorns, unwrap the vine, let peace’s fire ignite
Let these hearts fill with your wonder, sense your delight
For only then can these hearts grow, your joy felt within
can these hearts reach out to others in love, in peace as kin
Please let them see your crown will meet their every need
Let them feel your glowing warmth, when love proceeds
As they sense your glory, share your thorns in your place
So they can learn to wear them, to use them in your grace
In dignity and humility to feel the crown on their own head
Thorns worn in honor, deep in prayer letting your love spread
For these hearts are pure with peace, derived from sanctity
They know love moves mountains, moves souls collectively
Please let divinity help transform thorns from heart to soul
Where grace wounds in love, in faith, in hope to console
And yet sometimes the thorn turns around, towards the I
This type of thorn seems to confuse, to defy, to mystify
These thorns aim towards human flesh, not soul’s domain
They reduce our strength, bring suffering, bring undo pain
They damage lives in a ripple around, ways not seeming fair
Thorns cast about without regard, without reason, unaware
So Lord, in your sweet words that when two are in your care
You are there with us, to listen, to help, to hear our prayer
Remove these thorns, please put in them in our crowns instead
Undo the wrong, heal these hearts, let no more tears be shed
Occasionally I actually do not have to figure out a lesson God is giving me. In this particular case it was quite obvious. In the Sunday morning paper my heart sank after I read about another large suicide bomb in Iraq killing a number of people. Before Sunday Mass started a dear friend told me her husband had a virus attack his heart. I was lector and the reading included Paul’s discussing his thorn in his side. Within the gospel reading and the follow up homily, I heard the word heart at least a dozen times. I became to believe I was supposed to throw my prayers in with so many others that somehow we and God working together could find a way to ease the pain associated with all these thorns.
For further reflection:
1 Thessalonians 3
Timothy’s Encouraging Report
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us—just as we long to see you. 7 For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. 8 For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
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 about my poetry
I believe my writing fits snugly into the category of grounded mystical Christian theology. I have studied, written, and spiritually and physically applied this practical concept in my life for nearly two decades. I have never seen or participated in what some might call a vision or phenomenon. However, I appreciate that they may be a reality for the person or group, and God has provided them with deep consolation. For me, consolation is the beginning of a two-way relationship with God.
My own experiences are more intellectual in nature because I lean toward engineering and science. The reality for me is that God is always present because we are his tabernacles. We constantly miss His surfacing of lighter than a feather touch because we are a physical people. We talk about opening our hearts to this love, but technically, our intellect gets in the way. I have been trying to prove this virtually every day for well over a decade by documenting what I believe are grounded mystical thoughts in various ways.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these reflections of the contemplative material of this Web-based ministry? Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
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.
Peace,
Jerry
Attributions:
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