QUIET
SEASHORE DAY
Robert Trabold
Nerves on edge
many things to do
house work, poetry manuscripts
concerns about my health.
Noise – violence of our world
never ending wars
Gaza – Charlie Hebdo
harsh words – hatred.
Feel my insides all upset
looked forward to a day at
the sea. I was not disappointed.
Weather helped me.
Blue sky – cold wind
not too sharp. Jones
Beach pins trees soar
up – make no noise.
Dead yellow dune grass
gently swaying in the breeze.
They are awaiting the bugle of
springtime – will be green again.
So life rolls on
New Year. What will
it bring? Hopefully good news
only God knows.
I live in mystery – all of
us do – mystery of time
mystery of God – Jesus
invisible hands directing us.
Thank God I live near the seashore
West End Beach.
I let it blow over me
sooth me – strength for tomorrow!
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CONFIDENCE IN GOD
& THE NEW YEAR
Robert Trabold
As we begin the New Year, we should
take time to see where our life is going.
We slow down our schedules, reflect on our prayer life of contemplation
and where it is leading us. In our meditation, we have our discipline of prayer
and attempt to touch God’s presence by repeating the mantra and watching our
breathing in and out. Of course, there are always distractions, worries about
our life and its many facets and the constant tumult of the world and its wars.
But we put those thoughts behind us and again return to our mantra and
breathing. This constant putting aside the many distractions, worries and cares
that come into our prayer is a sign that God is more important in our life than
the many concerns we have about the present and the future. For twice a day for
twenty minutes each time, we set our sights on the Lord because He is the
primary object of our life and guides us. We have confidence that the rest of
life with its cares and worries is not important as the Divine.
This putting behind us and away the worries
and concerns of our daily living and those of the world reminds us of the
teaching of Jesus. In the gospel of St. Matthew, the Lord tells us to put aside
our constant worries about having enough to eat and drink and clothes for our
bodies. He mentions that life is more than these material concerns. These worries are basically about survival
and Jesus in his teaching tells us that life is more than survival. Rather we
have to concentrate on the Kingdom of God and its justice and the Lord will
provide for the rest. This is quite a challenge for us because we are immersed
in the world, can be sucked into its dynamic of desire for material things and
security, etc. and be overwhelmed with the injustices and wars around us. It
will take a life time for us to put aside these concerns and fix our sights on
the Kingdom of God and grow in such confidence that Jesus proposes to us.
Our contemplative prayer where we
put aside these concerns of our material life and the world requires a trust.
We have to grow in the belief that God is there for us and will never let us
out of his sight. In the gospel, Jesus tells us to look how his Father takes
care of the lilies of the fields, the grass and birds. If this is so, He will extend to us the same
care. Jesus exhorts us not to worry about tomorrow since it will take care of
itself. This is one of the challenges that we face over the years; we are to be
faithful to our daily meditation where the focus is on the Lord. Our
relationship with Him will grow. Our love will deepen and so to the confidence
of His care which Jesus promises us. This is an important horizon of our life
and if we are persistent in growing in this, a peace will come within us. We will
not be torn in every direction but keep our sights on Jesus and His promise who
then will guide the boat of our life to a safe landing.
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