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The following poem is reflective of the rather bold love mysticism of the late Middle Ages. This audacious, sometimes highly "suggestive," language of romance is applied, by both male and female mystics, to the longing for God within the Heart of all—a love that can create a recurring yearning for the Lover—God or Christ. While this love satisfies, it leads to recurrent feelings of separation, in which the sense of loss returns until the Bridegroom, or Bride, returns once more to quench the longing. Nothing on earth can quench this longing for the lover who loves this Love; however, this Lover loving us through creation or mind-heart can quench the longing. So, both prayer through form and prayer through formless meditation, or contemplation, are ways to have quenched the longing and to unite, to some extent, with the Love Who is Lover. Many persons assume that those living under vows of chastity are repressing the libido; this is definitely incorrect, for spiritual practices have been created to channel libido, or sexual desire, into religious devotion. Sadly, persons who have chosen this life of chastity are often caricatured; however, possibly it would do us all well, whether chaste or not, to learn how to channel the God-given sexual energies into passionate devotion to the Divine.
To Life:
In Gracefulness, we pray,
come adorned with Beauty to all,
with Your Self, alone,
approaching quietly, stealthily,
through the ashen streets.
Heart to Heart,
to a mutely waiting Friend in dark,
whisper, "I Come."
Let only the Wind,
Who knows of this tryst,
be privy to this pledge.
Then, in time, "I Am Here."
Enter, eyes searching for eyes,
the dimly lighted bedroom of
Your true love.
Follow the scent
to a Presence
bathed in the oil of eagerness
and aroused will to
consummate the vow
of this shared Love.
Recline, then, beside
all Your creation,
bring, then, rest
to all living things.
Waiting together in One,
naked, pining Heart;
bereft of affection lost,
surely to be regained
in the One Who
gives Itself freely to all things:
satisfy, forever, this desire
in satisfying Your need
to receive—
… silently, surely,
calming,
once more,
always.
Peace.
*Brian Wilcox
07-08-02
Spiritual Exercise
1. Read the above poem over a few times. What does it “say” to you?
2. Write your own romantic poem to the Spirit of Christ.
Prayer
Beloved, my Love, consummate Your Love in me and through me bring such consummation to others. Amen.
OneLife Ministries is a pastoral outreach and nurture ministry of the First United Methodist Church, Fort Meade, FL. For Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling, spirtual formation workshops, Christian meditation retreats, or more information about OneLife, write Rev. Dr. Brian K. Wilcox at briankwilcox@comcast.net . Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union, can be ordered through major bookdealers.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
The People of the
United Methodist Church
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