Month: September 2015

The Dialogue Turns to Coffee

/ Rev. Eric Anderson / Leave a comment

 

Me. Without coffee.




Rachel Hackenberg and I take writing, prayer, and poetry seriously. 

And coffee. We take coffee very seriously.

But sometimes there’s an opportunity to play… Thanks again to Rev. Hackenberg for permission to share these here. My work is indented to the right, and hers to the left.
 
 
 
If the green bean
Charred, mashed, ground, drowned
Can lift my drooping eyelids
Maybe even I can rise. 
 
Help me, God.
 
 
 
If the leaves can burn 
without crumbling, and
the coffee steep without
climbing, I too can wake.

A Tuesday Morning’s Dialogue of Twitter Prayers

/ Rev. Eric Anderson / 1 Comment
 
This series of brief prayers was born on Twitter in an impromptu conversation between the amazing Rachel Hackenberg and myself. When I saw the first one, it sparked the second, and to my delight she replied with the third. For a few minutes, as we each prepared ourselves for the day, we exchanged these poems 140 characters at a time.

She has very kindly given me permission to collect and publish them here. But make sure to visit RachelHackenberg.com regularly and benefit from her words and wisdom!

Rev. Hackenberg’s poems are indented to the left; mine to the right.
 
If a star can shine
beyond its extinction,
surely I can manage
to rise and shine
through my weariness.
 
Help, God.
 
 
 
If the tiny monarch’s
Cloak of salmon and sable
Can float it across the miles
Perhaps even I can fly. 
 
Help me, God.
 
 
 
If a song can sway the air
and pierce the heart until
the trees dream of love,
maybe I too can dance. 
 
Help me, God.
 
 
 
If an insubstantial thought
Can leap the miles
Flutter the heart 
Open the eyes
Maybe even I can hope. 
 
Help me, God.
 
 
 
And if there is hope,
then at last the moon
can sigh and melt, and
the sun can bleed with life.
 
God, help.
 
 
 
And if there is life,
Then sun and moon and tears of clouds
Can rain upon the earth
To call forth wild growth. 
 
God, help.

Among the Saints

/ Rev. Eric Anderson / Leave a comment

Each day and night, O God
You greet and welcome tens of thousands,
Souls released from earthly care
And streaming to your arms.

Tens of thousands
Every day and night.

Among them is a little boy
Whose earthly legs should still
Be carrying him gaily
Over a Syrian hill
And not, bedewed with sand,
Searing the convicted conscience
Of the world.

Among them is a trio,
Mother, father, daughter,
Children of music,
Parents each of melody and harmony.
They should still be raising songs
For us.

Among them are more fathers,
Step-fathers,
Mothers,
Step-mothers,
Brothers,
Sisters,
Siblings,
Lovers,
Friends,
Leaders,
Followers,
Acquaintances,
Loved Ones.

Loved by someone here.
Loved before the dawn of time
by You.

Embrace these saints, O God
(If the youngest of them will endure it
Before they race to dance upon the crest
Of heaven’s highest hill).
Embrace we saints, O God,
Who wish we’d had a way to share
For just a little longer
And only dimly see the consolation
You intend for us.

Amen.