St. John of the Cross
On a dark night
On a dark night,
Kindled in love with yearnings
--oh, happy chance!--
I went forth without being observed,
My house being now at rest.
In darkness and secure,
By the secret ladder, disguised
--oh, happy chance!--
In darkness and in concealment,
My house being now at rest.
In the happy night,
In secret, when none saw me,
Nor I beheld aught,
Without light or guide,
save that which burned in my heart.
This light guided me
More surely than the light of noonday
To the place where he
(well I knew who!) was awaiting me
-- A place where none appeared.
Oh, night that guided me,
Oh, night more lovely than the dawn,
Oh, night that joined
Beloved with lover,
Lover transformed in the Beloved!
Upon my flowery breast,
Kept wholly for himself alone,
There he stayed sleeping,
and I caressed him,
And the fanning of the cedars made a breeze.
The breeze blew from the turret
As I parted his locks;
With his gentle hand
He wounded my neck
And caused all my senses to be suspended.
My face I reclined on the Beloved.
All ceased and I abandoned myself,
Leaving my cares
forgotten among the lilies.
8 comments:
Claudia Mair,
That is so sweet and...moving. I know who this guy is, but haven't read anything by him.
The poem seems obscure, but those of us who have that same deep longing and hunger for friendship with God "get" it.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is in Philippians, where Paul writes how he's "longing after [them] with the affection of Christ Jesus". Affection. It's right there in the Bible - Jesus is affectionate towards us. You know I am obsessive about not "re-making God into our own image" and not reading something into His character that is not there. We must resist the urge to turn a Holy God into a "benevolent grand-daddy", so - even though my heart's cry is to climb into His lap like you write about; to receive a real bear-hug from Jesus - (I can't believe I'm writing this), something in me resists believing it; doesn't want to hope for such personal affection.
But here's the thing. Before you posted this, even just this week, I've been thinking about this. It's not unusual, especially among church people (both male and female) to hug each other and show caring and affection. I've seen it especially in women's Bible studies, when a lady is struggling with something and another shows genuine tenderness and care towards her, often in a physical way (beyond just passing the tissues). We're all imperfect sinners...and we have enough love for one another to offer an embrace.
God invented that. (Affection; even hugging). So if He invented it, and we who are so imperfect "lovers" can be moved enough to want to embrace one another, why would the Author of love - yes; including affection - deny a hug to one of His children? His love is ever so much MORE perfect, so it's logical that He would "hug" us. Of course, since He wants us to walk by faith and not by sight, we can't currently experience that "embrace" in a literal way, but it's His heart toward us all the same. God's love is perfect and unchanging...and Jesus is God.
(Yes, I really do analyze things like this - I'm not crazy.) But humor me on this - I think I just proved biblically that Jesus gives hugs. :)
Maybe I'll write a blog entry of my own on this subject, so I don't have to hog up all the comments space on yours!!
~ Marie
If anyone could understand the journey you're on, it would definitely be St. John of the Cross.
Thanks for sharing his words with us.
Still praying!
I wonder what this line means:
With his gentle hand
He wounded my neck
I know all about being wounded by the Beloved. I guess it's something you just have to live through.
Thank you
I wanted the fellowship, not the wounds.
I'm getting the wounds, waiting for the fellowship.
Claudia -
I've been thinking about this a lot the last few days, and trying to keep Jesus close, in spite of the pain. Today, I wasn't so ambitious as you - I neither cleaned the house nor exercised (I did, however, go shopping and do the laundry...) but went to take a nap. I was wearied out from thinking and analyzing so much, and wondering if the "wound" is His way of maturing me, or I need His healing for wounds inflicted by others.
Just as I was drifting off into unconsciousness, a verse popped into my head about trusting a wound that come from a friend. I couldn't remember where in the Bible that was from, but I found it in Proverbs 27:6:
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses."
He is still the Friend Who sticks closer than a brother...still telling me to trust Him. It reminded me of the verse from Psalm 62 He quickened last week, about trusting in God at ALL times.
Anywho, I thought I'd share that - it would definitely be a Word for you as well!
That's good stuff, Marie. Real good stuff. Glad you're working through the night.
Love ya, girl.
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