In the Wildness of My Soul

Sin, like the tall trees in the forest, has kept me from feeling God’s light. I am getting cold in the shadows, and God is calling me to make the clearing that I’ve needed for so long.
-------Amy Bridges' Lenten meditation

The following poem was written by New Hampshire poet Ed Pacht after reading Amy Bridges' Lenten meditation.


In the Wildness of My Soul

In me,
in the wildness of my soul,
the seeds of sin were planted.
In me,
in the wildness of my soul,
the seeds took root and grew.
In me,
in the wildness of my soul,
the trees grew up and spread their branches.
In me,
in the wildness of my soul,
the growing sin has blocked the sunlight,
and the shadows take the place of warmth,
and I am growing cold.
The gloom of darkness chills my soul.
In me,
the Gardner’s voice is calling,
in me,
a summons to a change of life,
to a clearing of a tiny place of welcome
in me,
where He will open up the forest
in me,
where warmth and light and mercy enter,
in me.

Looking Past the Haze

Nelson Lane (Grade 12)

Lenten Meditation

I need to clear the notion of routine from my life. Every day I take the same classes, see the same people, and have similar experiences. However, I want to realize that no two days are exactly the same. Every day has its own unique lessons to be learned. By getting out of the "zone" and looking past the haze of the routine, I hope to better see a world that is daily changing around me, sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly.

Clearing my focus on routine requires conscious effort, heightened awareness, and keen perception of incidentals, things I might normally ignore. The things that are present beyond the haze.

If I truly desire to learn I have to overcome the "noise" in the world. I rarely experience a moment of silence and stillness. If I can clear away some of this noise, I will be able to see the world around me as it really is, and learn from it rather than continue in the mundane routine. I have to live in the mundane, but with God's help, I don't have to allow it to keep me in ignorance.

Related reading: Stepping Out From the Shadows; Making a Place For Love; Beyond One's Self, Pride Halts Progress; Ed Pacht on Poetry as a Calling Beyond the Mundane

Making a Place For Love

Rick Childress (Grade 11)

A Lenten Meditation

I need to make a clearing (Lichtung) in how I deal with the relationships with my friends. Sometimes I feel the way I act is too shallow. I need to find ways to care more deeply for people. That part of my being (Dasein) needs to change. It needs a place cleared for new growth.

I want to feel more at home with my peers, and have them feel more comfortable with me. I need a space where love can spring up.

There are aspects of love that I do not understand. I feel as though I am shrouded in shallowness and that only deeply caring for others can help me see people clearly. Superficiality must be cleared before love can produce new life in my Dasein.

Related reading: Stepping Out From the Shadows: Beyond One's Self, Pride Halts Progress

Beyond One's Self

Zach Esenbock

A Lenten Meditation

In my Dasein, I need to make a clearing for my life’s purpose. I believe that a knowledge of one’s purpose is a good framework for success. Unless I know the purpose for which I was created, I cannot gain clarity about my life. Successful people seem to have a sense of purpose and direction.

When an individual is successful it contributes to creating prosperous communities and, eventually, better societies. There is a direct relationship between philosophical or religious introspection and the quality of life for the individual and the larger community.

I also feel that I need to better empathize with others. Empathy is key in discerning why one acts and thinks the way one does. This is helpful when trying to maintain long-term relationships in life. The success I seek involves clarity about my purpose and direction, and also lasting relationships.

Related reading:  Stepping Out From the Shadows; Pride Halts Progress

Pride Halts Progress

The infinitely little have a pride infinitely great.-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Andrew Calvert (Grade 11)

A Lenten Meditation

Martin Heidegger's definition of clearing involves making space for something to fill the gap. Making a place for new growth. In my life there needs to be a clearing of pride to make room for knowledge. Foolishly believing that I know more than others covers the gaps or mysteries that invite investigation. This entails dealing with my pride, something that can halt intellectual development and philosophical progress.

Emerson was right when he said, "No man has ever had a point of pride that was not injurious to him."

Pride entails false conceptions of truth, or knowledge only on the surface level. Pride too often emphasizes these superficial truths rather than meaningful questions. Socrates recognized the necessity of humility when he said "I know nothing." Aristotle said, "All men, by nature, desire to know." 

If I desire to know, and live in accordance with one attribute of my nature, I must exercise humility. Based on the thoughts of these wise philosophers, I conclude that the clearing I need involves my pride. I must deal with this in order to clearly see deficiencies in my knowledge, and to further personal inquiry.

Related reading: Stepping Out From the Shadows

Stepping Out From the Shadows

Amy Bridges (Grade 11)

A Lenten Meditation

I need to make a clearing in my Dasein in order to develop my personal relationship with God.

This school year has been rough and I need some new growth to get me out of the rut I’m in. I’m in the process of clearing an area for God to be at the center. Living waters. The tree of Life in the midst of the garden.

With prayer and reading scripture, I am healing wounds, and allowing God to come closer by clearing the clutter and sin from my life and my heart. 

Sin, like the tall trees in the forest, has kept me from feeling God’s light. I am getting cold in the shadows, and God is calling me to make the clearing that I’ve needed for so long.

Related reading: Looking Past the Haze by Nelson Lane; Making a Place For Love by Rich Childress; Beyond One's Self by Zach Esenbock; Pride Halts Progress by Andrew Calvert; Ed Pacht on Poetry as a Calling Beyond the Mundane