This is a sequence of poetic meditations on scripture phrases written to accompany groups of documentary portrait photographs used by the Anglican Missionary Agency USPG to promote its work, but presented in a special exibition at St John's City Parish Church Cardiff, August 2009, as a stimulus to spiritual reflection and meditation.
“Give us this day our daily bread”
It starts here in open fields
with the labour of sowing and reaping,
winnowing and grinding
before yeast can start to grow
and work its wonder
beneath the baker’s artful hands.
“The earth shall yield its increase; God shall bless us”
It all depends on an increase
that nobody can invent
but only observe its advent
in the detail of nature’s
constant consistency -
so fragile and threatened
by failure to live in harmony
yet God is unfailing
desiring to secure
the children’s joy and shalom.
“The eyes of all wait on you O Lord; you give them their food in due season”
Do we look beyond our ephemeral selves
into the darkness of our being
who are we?
Do we recognise the author of our being
in the fact of abundance
in food and drink
or in the starkness of famine -
the parched wilderness of tired soil,
drained of life,
poisoned by greed and ambition?
Yet God is unfailing
in desiring to secure
the children’s joy and shalom
“You open your hand; and fill all things living with plenteousness”
Do you seek the Giver
as avidly as the gift
you take for granted?
Invisible, present
in the soil and in the sea
these immensely generous hands
provide more than we imagine –
enough for all in every kind of need
except for the need
that persistent debilitating need
to be of greater
significance and value than others.
“You prepare a table before me”
Made in your image
we grow to imitate you
making the food go round
providing for others
a share of your abundance
offering refreshment
hospitality around a table
that is both ours and yours
wherever we are
between earth and heaven.
“Members of one another”
You make us what we are
our being steeped in belonging
kindred spirits
whether by blood
or the water of regeneration
It is your light
that shines in our eyes
your love for one another
our love for you
Giver of all that is good
“Those who wait on the Lord renew their strength”
You taught us
the blessing of patience
in receiving the fullness
of earth's bounty.
We also learn to wait
amidst the swirl of
mundane preoccupations
until we know your presence
when stillness
comes from nowhere
and enfolds us in awe
just at the point
where our hearts can rise
no further.
“... many will thank God for your gifts
Seeing your joy
your welcome
your kindness
your sharing
of yourselves in spirit and truth
if not in abundance
of material things
awakens joy in our hearts.
Seeing though never meeting
in this world
we are bound by mutual regard
for Him who loved us all
and gave Himself for us -
Let our heart overflow with praise
for the Author of Life,
Giver of all good gifts.
