The Color of Love

Photo by Karen Wood

What is the color of Love?

I asked, expectantly ...

I saw a rainbow explode

Within my Being ~

Each speck of rainbow debris

Birthing a new universe.

I saw a newborn babe

Suckling at its mother's breast,

Drawing sustenance

For a lifetime journey.

I saw

Radiant suns,

Luminous moons,

Brightly painted birds,

Flowers pregnant with vivid hues ...

This ~ and more ~

Unfolded before my mind's eye.

Then all vanished

As the Breath of God

Blew everything away

And Breathed into my Soul

A new understanding:

The color of Love

Is all of this ~

And none of it.

The color of Love

Cannot be seen

Or Named ...

The color of Love

Can only be known.

The color of Love

Is All That Is ~

Pure Existence

Breathed into Being.

It can only be "seen" ...

Reflected.

~ By Karen Wood

Look at Me!

(Photo by Karen Wood)

Oh, Eternal Father!

Look at me!

I come as a little child

Before You ~

Wanting You to see

My childish antics ...

My childish desires ...

My childish accomplishments.

My whole Being screams

"Look at me!"  "Watch me!"

Hoping to grab the attention

Of some Holy Other

Who sometimes seems

Distracted and distant ...

Not paying any attention to me.

I so love You!

My deep affection allows me

To brave calling You

"Holy Daddy!"

I long for You

To notice me ...

To acknowledge me ...

To accept me ...

To affirm me ...

To Bless me!

I open my arms wide ~

Reaching out for You.

I hold out my finger

To touch Your Holy Garment.

Oh, Holy Daddy!

I am but a child!

How could I have known

That the arms reaching out to You

Were Your Own?

~ By Karen Wood

Prayer for Comfort

(Photo by Karen Wood)



Most Holy of Holies ~

You are both Father and Mother to me.

From Your sacred union

You birthed me into Being,

Blessed me with Divine Lineage,

And breathed Light into my Soul.

Come gently to me ...

Stroke me with Your tender grace ...

Wrap Your arms of Loving-kindness

Around my trembling body.

Let Your Word echo through

The still chambers of my Heart.

Allow every place You touch

To reveal to the world

Your Divine Imprint

Upon my fragile Being.

Mark each spot

With Divine Light,

Pure Love,

Holy Joy.

May I always strive to love You

As deeply and as dearly

As You love me ...

And may I forgive myself, daily,

As I realize just how far

I have missed the mark.

~ By Karen Wood

A Most Holy Gift



Photo by Karen Wood
(Above Magi Temple door at Beverly Hall, Quakertown, PA, http://www.soul.org/)

 
You Bless me ~
Showering me
With all Good Gifts ...

I cannot see them ~
For my eyes are fixed
On worldly concerns.

Open my eyes,
Oh, Supreme Giver!

May I recognize
Each Holy Present,
No matter its wrapping.

May I see You
In every Gift ...

May I give back
From a deep well
Of unending gratitude ...

And may I know
Myself
The way You know me ~
As a priceless Spark of the Divine ...
A most Holy Gift.

~ By Karen Wood

Embracing the Pain

Photo by Karen Wood

(Encarnation Convent, Avila, Spain)



Freedom from searing pain

Teaches gratitude

For pain-free movements ...

Agony of ill health

Brings me to my knees ~

Humbling my Heart ...

Through pain,

I recognize That

Which is Master of Wholeness.

Through tears,

I see the only Truth

Which can release me.

I embrace the pain ...

Grateful for it.

For what seemed my captor

Unveils itself as Wisdom Teacher.

~ By Karen Wood



The Imperfect Flower

Photos by Karen Wood

(Taken at Angel Fire, N.M.)

Bring Me an

Imperfect flower ...

You cannot do it.

For I have stamped

Perfection

On every petal ~ every leaf.

You bring me a weed,

But you don't see its loveliness

As I see it.

And you don't call it

By the name I gave to it.

Bring me a weed ~

Or bring me a Rose.

Either way,

You bring me a Mirror.

~ By Karen Wood



Freeze This Moment!

Photo by Karen Wood

 (Rose garden angel at Beverly Hall, Quakertown, PA -- http://www.soul.org/)

I brush away a wayward hair ~

Then wonder if it was actually

An angel who touched me ...

For there was no hair.

I feel a softness against my face ~

And know it to be cool air

From the humming window air conditioner ...

Or an Unseen Guide.

I almost dare not move ~

For it would put a ripple

In the thick Love

That surrounds my Being.

I want to remain trapped in the Stillness.

I want to drown in the Soup

Of The Holy Presence.

I want the deafening Silence

To lull me to Eternal Sleep.

Freeze this moment!

Oh, Holy Presence!

As I sit here burning

With love for You,

Please freeze me!

~ By Karen Wood