The Great I Am

Image credit: fpcomaha.org

I AM WHO I AM

Exodus 3:14

God said—

I Am

He was utterly

straightforward

Exists—

Is

Am

The most important

question

          answered

in the audible voice

of the Almighty

Himself

even without

the asking

Tell them, He told Moses

I Am

sent you

That He Is

Was

and Ever Shall Be—

is

the greatest

          manifestation

                   of our peace

Maude Carolan Pych  

A Drink from a 4,000 Year-Old Well

Photo credit: netours.com

A CUP OF WATER FROM JACOB’S WELL

Israel Pilgrimage—1986

We arrive at Shechem

and make our way

to Jacob’s Well

It surprises me to find

this ancient water source

that I first read about in Genesis

still operating

and I’m astonished

to be offered

a refreshing cupful

drawn deeply

from a bucket

on a rope

The water is clear and cool

and tastes ordinary, but

what can be ordinary

about water drawn

from the very well

of the old patriarch

built 4000 years ago?

I purchase a small ceramic urn

filled with an ounce or so

of life’s most basic sustenance

It is sealed with a plug of wax

I’ll place it on a shelf at home

not because of any

mystical or magical powers

(It is ordinary water, after all)

but to remind me

of how far back in time

God’s amazing story goes

Maude Carolan Pych

A Visit to the Dead Sea

One of my favorite places on Earth...

the Dead Sea

Photo credit: britannica.com

DEAD SEA DELIGHTS

Israel Pilgrimage—2006

Earlier today

while bussing

through the region

brilliant sunrays illuminated

the Dead Sea

bedazzling us

with sparkling expanses

of cerulean and turquoise

Now, amid evening shadows

some of us slip into the sea

There is ample darkness

so we dare to reach down

for handfuls of rich

black, therapeutic mud

and slather it lavishly

over our face and body

It’s November—

the air is cool

as is the sea

nevertheless

we linger

bobbing buoyantly

in extreme saltiness

as the precious muck

squishes and oozes

through our toes

     reminding us

     of when we were kids

Maude Carolan Pych

Carrying Our Own Cross

Sometimes Life Can Be Difficult

and We Get to Carry Our Own Cross...

Image credit: pinterest.co.uk

The following poem

was written during a time of bereavement:

ACCEPTANCE

I accept this bitter cup

filled to the brim

with the wine

of sorrow

I'll take

and drink

it dry

For I have tasted

the sweet wine

of the red

grapes

of joy

the wine

of gladness

the wine

of blessing

I accept this cross—

I will lug its weight

upon my

bony shoulder

and trudge

the pathway

of travail

When

I misstep

and stumble

I'll call for help

My cross

is so, so small

compared to Yours

My bitter cup

sweet honey

All I need

to make it

Jesus

is Your hand

and Your deep

unfathomable

Love…

Maude Carolan