Words Not Heard
Whispers heard yet no one but I could to hear the missing sound
Single words that had no volume, no vibration that could be found
Something told me I was ok, do not worry I was not hearing things
This could not be, I ignored them so self instead drove my bearings
A restless word echoed, would not go free, would not leave me alone
Try as I might this word Mary appeared in silence, as if cast in stone
For the first time I had to choice in all of this, I tried to comprehend
why would God want me to pay attention; this madness had to end
For months I prayed and even read of Mary to try and understand
Frustration built until one day I demanded God to reveal His hand
In that moment I felt shame in what I had done, no deeper sorrow
I had ever felt, I feared of how wrong this time was my human ego
With heart now opened, love poured in to heal this kind of wound
Gentle peace began its awesome roar, I heard instead a different tune
The word was not Mary but marry, in tears I saw how I was blind
to a simple truth that I should have seen, now clear from the divine
I was too young for marriage; I could not be more absolute and sure
But how could I argue against this greater truth of thoughts so pure
There is a first time for everything, the message clear that I could see
I gave up my humanity to let my soul ask of her to always be with me
This began two paths I am on, this world of life and loving family
with sweet breaths I sense of other things outside of normal reality
To ebb and flow, to touch sometimes, a joy I cannot explain in words
with reason left behind, to let Christ’s grace lift my soul upwards
When I was a young man, one day a single word just simply took possession of me and would not go away no matter what I tried to do. Being young and foolish without any sense of direction I believed the word was Mary. Somehow I knew from the beginning God had given me this word to drive me nuts. And it did until one day I could not take it anymore and insisted in a very argumentative way that He tell me right that instant what I supposed to do with it. I felt humility in the moment that I have never forgotten and still struggle to understand and explain. By the end of that conversation I figured out the word was really marry. The rest is history, my wife and I have been married 30 years and have 3 wonderful children. During this time I have continued to listen and when I can be sure it is God whispering to me, I follow His directions.
For further reflection:
1 John 4:1-6 – Scripture
Testing the Spirits
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus[a] is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world. 4 Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
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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 about my Poetry
This site has written permission from New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) to use Bible passages.
I believe my poetry 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 techniquely, 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